WHERE WAS FAIRNESS WHEN DEMOCRATS RULED OKLAHOMA?

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, JOIN ‘EM

by Steve Fair

 

For almost a century after statehood, the Democrat Party dominated Oklahoma politics.  From statehood (1907) until 1973, Democrats held over 80% of the seats in the state legislature.  The first eighteen governors after statehood were Democrats.  For over 65 years, the majority of Oklahoma's members of Congress were Democrats.  When Okies went to register to vote, they were told by election board officials they 'had to register Democrat,' or they wouldn't get to vote in county elections. Giving out that counsel was illegal, but it was common practice. 

 

When Ronald Reagan ran in 1976, that changed.  Reagan appealed to conservative Democrats and they changed their registration.  In 2004, Republicans gained a majority in the State House and they haven't looked back.  Republicans currently hold all statewide elected offices, both U.S. Senate seats, all U.S. House districts, and have supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature.  As of January 2025, over 52% of registered voters in Oklahoma are Republican, while only about 26% are registered Democrats.  Oklahoma has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election since 1968 (except for the Lyndon Johnson landslide in 1964), and no Democratic candidate has won a single county in the state in any election since 2004. 

To say the tide has turned is an understatement.

 

Tired of losing, Democrat leaders embraced a different strategy.  Recognizing the only way to win was to be an R, they encouraged former Democrats to join the Republican Party.  Their motto has become; if you can't beat them, join 'em.  The result has been a large number of RINOs (Republican in Name Only) being elected .  But Democrats still were losing.  Their next step was to claim Republicans were unfair for not allowing non-Republicans to select their Parties' nominee.  They want to change Oklahoma's closed primary system to a California style primary, where everyone runs in the primary- no matter Party affiliation- and the top two vote getters go the general election.  SQ #836 supporters are out in force and have until the end of January to get the necessary signatures to get it on the ballot.  Three observations:

 

First, Democrats didn't complain when they dominated Oklahoma politics.  In fact, they fought an effort to make county offices non-partisan.  When they were winning, they were uncooperative and ignored Republicans. 

 

Second, Oklahoma does have an apathy issue.  Oklahoma was dead last in the country in voter turnout for the last two presidential elections (2020 and 2024).  But the solution is not SQ#836- it's education.  It's encouraging fellow citizens to pay attention to what elected officials do after they are elected and holding them accountable.  That takes time and effort. 

 

Oklahoma has a substantial number of voters registered Independent.  Independents are traditionally not faithful voters.  In a closed primary state, a voter should pick a side and align with the Party that best represents their values. 

 

Third, SQQ#836 would move Oklahoma to the left.  That Is the whole point of SQ#836.  It isn't about fairness or increasing voter turnout.  It's about changing Oklahoma to a more liberal state. 

 

In the next couple of weeks, signature solicitors will be stationed at retail outlets telling voters Oklahoma's primary system is unfair.  But recognize SQ#836 is just the Democrat's effort to win elections.  They could care less about fairness.  Don't sign the petition!