OK-1 could very well be the seat that will live in inphamy along with only a smattering of other house seats. Just south of the border, Michael Conaway will thankfully be the only Texas Republican to go unopposed. Kansas isn't looking too bad either. And three of Oklahoma's four Republican representatives are already being opposed.
Except for my Rep, John Sullivan. I wouldn't be suprised if you havn't heard of this sophmore Republican because the only bill he sponsered in his first two years made father's day a national holiday. He's one of the ten scariest Republicans on immigration, right there with Tom Tancredo and Steve King of Iowa.
While many states have primaries this week, us Oklahomans face a filing deadline that has arrived much too soon. So take a break from the intense election returns and read about the importance of tomorrow.
The filing period in Oklahoma is over the course of three days. It started Monday and will end tomorrow. Thus far, every Republican except Sullivan will face a Democratic challanger. Arguably the most Republican district in the state (at least by reputation, I can't confirm it with statistics), Frank Lucas in OK-3 attracted three Democrats that will face off in a July primary.
Ernest Istook's open seat in Oklahoma City also has attracted three very strong Democratic challangers (although rumor has it that front runner Patricia Presley might drop out. I have no idea why.)
So let's not ruin a fairly strong showing filing wise by giving John Sullivan a free pass. I get email updates from the local county party and they don't seem particularly urgent about Sullivan although they could be doing a lot more that I don't know about. Afterall, Doug Dodd, our Democratic nominee for the past two cycles got killed back to back despite hopeful polling close to election day in 04. I think local activists feel somewhat defeated about Sullivan's seat. Perhaps rightfully so.
But if we want an effective fifty state strategy, every piece of the puzzle must come together. Dean's already been generous enough to sacrafice funding for competetive house and senate seats in favor of state parties. Now its up to us to capitalize.
If anyone has any connections to anyone in Oklahoma's first district (based in Tulsa) that would be willing to run for congress as a Democrat, please lobby on our behalf. If you are a resident, please consider filing tomorrow. At least make Sullivan and the RNC spend a little bit of money on this race.
Seriously, if anyone is a resident and has the time and energy please consider filing. I've tried to convince my mom for the longest time and I got nowhere. I'll have to wait until 2016 or 2018 (not sure which) until I'm old enough to kick Sullivan's ass (hopefully not, since we'll get a Dem in there before then).
John Sullivan is a scary human being. He has been arrested for assaulting an off duty cop, prostitution, cited underage drinking related things. He's your quintessential rich, privlaged party boy who comes from a wealthy family, who actually have made many great contributions to the Tulsa community. His mother gets up at 5 oclock every morning to volunteer at a local private Hispanic school. They are simply outraged by their son's Tom Tancredoesque stance on immigration.
Anyways, consider this a call to action. The point I'd like to reiterate again is the fact that Governor Dean has been so generous to state parties when he's facing pressure from all over Washington to be like Terry McAullife and divert it towards competetive House and Senate seats. I have faith in the fifty state strategy, and to leave seats uncontested is a betrayal of Governor Dean and his vision to make us a viable opposition party once again.