I haven't seen a lot of discussion here about the 2006 Oklahoma elections, maybe because none of the races are considered competitive in a way that has national implications, or because many of the Democrats in Oklahoma are very conservative, therefore it's hard to really work up interest in their campaigns. But I'm still interested in what will happen in the state this year, and the governor's office is definitely important to have.
Incumbent
Brad Henry (a Democrat who narrowly won in 2002, defeating football hero and all around
great guy. His opponent this year is Congressman
Ernest Istook. Henry is
very popular, but this is Oklahoma, so the race could heat up very soon. Henry has had to appoint 3 new state supreme court justices in only 4 years in office, and there are one or two who have been in office for quite a few decades, so I wonder if this will be a campaign issue.
Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin, a popular 3-term LG, is running in the GOP priary for Istook's now-vacant 5th district seat. I hope she has better luck than the last woman to run a major Congressional race in Oklahoma, Frank Keating's wife Cathy, who had a very ugly primary fight that she ultimately lost. OK's Congressional districts are all very gerrymandered (1 D, 4 R), so there doesn't seem to be a big fight ahead once the 5th-CD primary is done.
The state house was taken over by Republicans (for the first time since the 20's) in 2004. The state senate is narrowly Democratic, but there are about 7 Dem-held seats which will be open due to term limits. Some are in very competitive districts.
I don't know that much about some of the other races, like Lt. Governor. These are the candidates listed at Politics1:
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Todd Hiett (R) - State House Speaker & Rancher
Scott Pruitt (R) - State Sen. & Attorney
Cal Hobson (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Retired National Guard Officer
Jeff Rabon (D) - State Sen. & Ex-Congressional Aide
Nancy Riley (R) - State Sen. & Retired Teacher
Jari Askins (D) - State House Minority Leader, Ex-State Parole Board Chair & Attorney
Pete Regan (D) - Ex-Congressional Aide & Attorney
Susan Savage (D) - Secretary of State & Ex-Tulsa Mayor
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Do any of you in Oklahoma, or who have knowledge of the state, have any thoughts or predictions on the OK elections this year?
