OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE HAS A SLEW OF NEWBIES!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

LOOKING BACK!

by Steve Fair

 

      2025 is here and 2024 is in the books.  Here are the top four political stories in Oklahoma for 2024:

     First, President Trump won a non-consecutive second term.  Trump joined Grover Cleveland as the only president to win back-to-back terms.  Over 1 million Oklahomans voted for Trump on November 5^th.  Trump got two thirds of the vote and won all 77 counties in the Sooner state for the third straight time.  Only one other state- West Virginia- had every county vote Red.  The last time Oklahoma went blue was for Lyndon B Johnson’s winning campaign in 1964. 

     The last time a Democratic candidate was able to have more votes in a county in Oklahoma than the Republican was in the 2000 election. Al Gore was able to get more votes than his opponent, George W. Bush, in seven Oklahoma counties. It wasn't enough to swing the state in Gore's favor.  Bush still handily won the state, but it's worth noting no Democrat candidate has been able to replicate what Gore did since 2000.

     Second, Oklahoma voters sent eight Republican incumbent legislators home.  State House A&B Chair Kevin Wallace, (R-Wellston) lost an August primary runoff, as did Senators Roger Thompson, (R-Okemah) and Blake Stephens, (R-Tahlequah), and Rep. Dean Davis, (R-Broken Arrow).  In the June primary, Oklahoma state Senate floor leader Greg McCortney, (R-Ada), who had been tapped as the next leader in the upper chamber was defeated.  Senators Jessica Garvin, (R-Duncan), and Cody Rogers, (R-Tulsa), as well as Rep. John Talley, (R-Stillwater) also lost their reelection bids.  The common denominator in unseating the incumbents appears to be their being out of touch with their constituents, especially on tax cuts.    

     Coupled with legislators who choose not seek reelection and those termed out, the number of freshmen lawmakers elected was historic.  When the Oklahoma legislature conveys the first week of February, there will be 31 new greenhorns (17 in House/14 in Senate).  A staggering twenty percent of the two chambers will be new. 

     Third, the 2026 race for governor begins.  With Governor Kevin Stitt termed out, the race is open.  The GOP field is expected to be crowded.  Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, outgoing Speaker of the House Charles McCall, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, lead the field.  Drummond and McCall can ‘self-fund,’ which can be a game changer in a crowded primary.  U.S. Congressman Kevin Hern, (R-Tulsa) had been eying the race, but announced he will not run. 

     Fourth,  the tribes and the state remain at odds.  With Governor Kevin Stitt taking the stand the Tribal Gaming Compact did not automatically renew and the tribes saying it rolled over, a clash was inevitable.  A federal court ruled back in 2020, the compacts did renew, but Stitt has continued the fight.  He Stitt asked the nine-member Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (he appoints all 9 members) to not allow horse tracks to offer gaming machines or share in the participating tribal fund revenue starting Jan. 1, 2035, unless authorized by the governor. The panel voted 9-0 to do that on a nonbinding resolution.

     The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on McGirt restored the five civilized tribe’s reservation and tribal sovereignty often conflicts with Oklahoma state interests.  From water rights to criminal law enforcement, McGirt has the potential transport the state back to before statehood.

     2024 voters sent two clear messages: (1) they don’t like the direction elected officials are taking their government, and (2) they want radical change.  They would rather have a novice in office than an experienced politico who doesn’t listen to them.  2025 will reveal if their message was received.