Showing posts with label Bob Anthony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bob Anthony. Show all posts

Friday, August 22, 2025

Rep. Gann challenges PSO’s 2021 winter storm bonds at OK Supreme Court


Gann Challenges PSO’s 2021 Winter Storm Bonds at OK Supreme Court

OKLAHOMA CITY – An appeal brief filed Thursday by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, asks the Oklahoma Supreme Court to invalidate some $700 million in ratepayer-backed bonds issued to cover costs incurred by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) during February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri. Payments for those bonds have been collected on the monthly bills of PSO’s customers since the bonds were issued in September 2022. They are scheduled to continue for another 17 years.

Gann’s brief tells the court that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) failed to provide a required audit of the bonds in PSO’s most recent rate case. He also argues PSO’s original 2021 Uri costs that were securitized into the bonds were never audited either.  Gann asserts the audit failures are fatal in both cases, making the OCC’s orders void. 

Friday, June 14, 2024

2024 Primary Election: recommendations from BatesLine


Conservative Tulsa blogger Michael Bates of BatesLine.com has published his traditional election day voting card, with recommendations, links, and information about the elections on the June 18th primary ballot across the state. Somehow, this primary has snuck up on me, and I'm woefully behind on my own election postings.

Filled with great insights and well-documented research, Michael's excellent analysis and opinion is always a must-read.

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Justin Hornback details candidacy for open Corporation Commission seat

I received the following press release from Justin Hornback, one of three Republicans seeking the open seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (being vacated by Bob Anthony due to term limits). The other two candidates are former Senate Pro Tem/former Secretary of State Brian Bingman, and energy journalist Russell Ray. A Libertarian and Democrat also filed for the race.


Justin Hornback Announces Candidacy for Oklahoma Corporation Commission 2024

Broken Arrow, OK -  May 16th, 2024 | Justin Hornback, a seasoned energy industry veteran with two decades of hands-on experience, formally announces his candidacy for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in the upcoming 2024 elections. Hornback, who has spent 20 years immersed in the complexities and challenges of the energy sector, brings unique qualifications and a fresh perspective to the race. Setting himself apart from his opponents, Hornback positions himself as a worker from one of the largest industries regulated by the OCC, offering practical, first-hand knowledge rather than a traditional political background.

Friday, August 18, 2023

Secretary of State, former Senate Pro Tem Bingman to run for Corporation Commission, endorsed by Gov. Stitt

Buckle up: the 2024 primary is just around the corner.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ENDORSES BRIAN BINGMAN
FOR CORPORATION COMMISSION
Governor's Senior Policy Advisor brings unequaled
private, public-sector experience to job

Oklahoma City, Okla., August 16, 2023- Oklahoma Secretary of State Brian Bingman announced today he is filing as a candidate for Corporation Commission.

“The regulatory industry dramatically impacts our business environment and ability to recruit jobs. I need Brian Bingman because of his experience and his unquestioned integrity,” said Governor Stitt.

In response, Bingman said, “I'm honored to have the endorsement of not only Governor Stitt but so many Oklahomans who have asked me to serve in this capacity to make Oklahoma more business friendly.”

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Oklahoma turns a new page with new leaders


With the inauguration of Governor Kevin Stitt and a mostly-new slate of statewide elected officials, the state of Oklahoma is turning the page and closing a chapter.

Stitt looks to be a bold contrast to the [largely disappointing and frustrating] past eight years of Mary Fallin, but time will tell whether he will be able to get the Legislature to work with him in order to accomplish his goals. There are promising signs already.


New Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell was also sworn in on Monday, as well as Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony (his final term), State Auditor Cindy Byrd (her first term), Attorney General Mike Hunter (his first full term), State Treasurer Randy McDaniel (his first term), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister (her final term), Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn (her first term), and Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready (his first term).

You can read Gov. Stitt's inauguration speech here, or watch the full ceremony below, courtesy of Tulsa's NBC affiliate, KJRH:

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Poll find Stitt ahead by 3.5%, all other statewide races solid GOP


In a new survey by the Right Strategy Group, GOP candidate Kevin Stitt leads the race for Governor with 47% to Democrat Drew Edmondson's 43% and Libertarian Chris Powell's 2%. 8% of respondents indicated that they are undecided. All other statewide races lean heavily to the GOP.

Oklahoma General Election Poll
Conducted by The Right Strategy Group. Automated voice recorded phone survey of 1058 likely voters in Oklahoma, conducted on September 25 & 26, 2018, with a margin of error of +/- 3.0% at the 95 percent confidence interval.

GOVERNOR
Kevin Stitt (R) - 46.9%
Drew Edmondson (D) - 43.4%
Chris Powell (L) - 2.0%
Undecided - 7.8%

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Matt Pinnell (R) - 50.0%
Anastasia Pittman (D) - 34.1%
Ivan Holmes (I) - 4.0%
Undecided - 12.0%

ATTORNEY GENERAL
Mike Hunter (R) - 50.7%
Mark Myles (D) - 32.3%
Undecided - 17.0%

STATE SUPERINTENDENT
Joy Hofmeister (R) - 48.3%
John Cox (D) - 31.6%
Larry Huff (I) - 7.3%
Undecided - 12.8%

LABOR COMMISSIONER 
Leslie Osborn (R) - 47.8%
Fred Dorrell (D) - 29.9%
Brandt Dismukes (I) - 4.5%
Undecided - 17.9%

CORPORATION COMMISSIONER
Bob Anthony (R) - 53.0%
Ashley Nicole McCray (D) - 31.4%
Jackie Short (I) - 3.6%
Undecided - 12.0%

STATE AUDITOR
Cindy Byrd (R) - 47.4%
John Yeutter (L) - 11.7%
Undecided - 40.9%

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Glen Mulready (R) - 43.1%
Kimberly Fobbs (D) - 32.2%
Undecided - 24.7%

You can view the poll with full crosstabs at this link.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Poll: GOP leads OK-Gov race by 2%, wide leads elsewhere


A recent survey performed by SoonerPoll for Oklahoma's CBS affiliates (KWTV in Oklahoma City, and KOTV in Tulsa) finds a tight race for Governor, but wide leads for the Republican nominees in other races.


Governor:
Kevin Stitt (R) - 46.6%
Drew Edmondson (D) - 44.2%
Chris Powell (L) - 3.2%
Undecided/not sure - 6.0%
By far the closest race, this also has a very low undecided number. Libertarian candidate Chris Powell may well play a key role in the outcome of the 2018 gubernatorial race, depending on who he draws more from.

Digging into the cross-tabs, Stitt wins 76% of Republicans while Edmondson gets 78% of Democrats. Stitt takes 14.9% of Democrat voters, while Edmondson snags 15.6% of Republicans. Edmondson beats Stitt among Independents 50.6% to 25.6%.

Stitt leads in the 1st District (by 9.7%), 2nd District (by 16.2%), and 4th District (by 6.7%), while Edmondson leads in the 3rd District (by 10.1%) and 5th District (by 12.1%).

Lieutenant Governor:
Matt Pinnell (R) - 49.1%
Anastasia Pittman (D) - 31.0%
Ivan Holmes (I) - 4.6%
Undecided/not sure - 15.3%
Matt Pinnell leads the race for Lieutenant Governor by 18.1%, over Democrat Anastasia Pittman and former Oklahoma Democratic Party chairman Ivan Holmes, who is running as an Independent.

State Auditor:
Cindy Byrd (R) - 56.3%
John Yeutter (L) - 17.3%
Undecided/not sure - 26.4%
    While John Yeutter will likely set a new record for most Libertarian votes received (thanks to a head-to-head with the Republican nominee), he trails the GOP candidate by the largest margin on the ballot. At 39%, Cindy Byrd has the largest lead in this survey.

    Attorney General:
    Mike Hunter (R) - 52.1%
    Mark Myles (D) - 34.2%
    Undecided/not sure - 13.7%
    On the ballot for the first time since he infamously lost to perennial candidate Jim Rogers in the 2010 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Mark Myles trails Republican Mike Hunter by 17.9%.

    State Treasurer:
    Randy McDaniel (R) - 41.7%
    Charles de Coune (I) - 20.3%
    Undecided/not sure - 38.0%
    In the other race with no Democratic candidate, State Rep. Randy McDaniel will have easy sailing to the State Treasurer's office.

    State Superintendent:
    Joy Hofmeister (R) - 50.6%
    John Cox (D) - 31.3%
    Larry Huff (I) - 9.3%
    Undecided/not sure - 8.9%
    In a rematch from 2014, Republican Joy Hofmeister leads by 19.3%. She defeated Cox in 2014 by 11.6%, with no Independent or third-party candidate in the mix.

    Labor Commissioner:
    Leslie Osborn (R) - 48.8%
    Fred Dorrell (D) - 26.3%
    Brandt Dismukes (I) - 6.2%
    Undecided/not sure - 18.7%
    Dorrell is the lowest-scoring Democrat in this poll, trailing by 22.5%, with an Independent also in the race.

    Insurance Commissioner:
    Glen Mulready (R) - 41.9%
    Kimberly Fobbs (D) - 32.8%
    Undecided/not sure - 25.3%
    The closest race on the ballot, Mulready leads by 9.1%, but one-quarter of respondents are undecided.

    Corporation Commissioner:
    Bob Anthony (R) - 47.5%Ashley Nicole McCray (D) - 29.5%Jackie Short (I) - 8.5%Undecided/not sure - 14.5%
    Bob Anthony, running for his final term in office, leads by 18%.

    The scientific study was conducted September 5-10, 2018 with 407 likely voters selected at random statewide from a tri-frame of SoonerPoll’s own online panel, cell phones and landline telephones. For cell phone and landline telephones, voters are selected at random from SoonerPoll’s voter database and matched with cell and landline phone numbers. Cell phone participants are collected using live interviewers and landline participants are collected using both live interviewer and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) technology. The sample was weighted by age, political party, and congressional district in order to reflect the Oklahoma likely voter population. 

    The sample reflects the traditional demographical profile of the Oklahoma likely voter with roughly half of respondents identifying as conservative. The study has a Margin of Error (MoE) of ±4.86 percent.

    Monday, September 10, 2018

    Election Results Maps: GOP Corp. Commission runoff

    This Election Results Map post looks at the Corporation Commission runoff . Last week, I posted the maps for the State Auditor and Attorney General runoffs.

    Bob Anthony did very well in central and northwestern Oklahoma, as well as the southern and southeastern fringe of the state. Pushmataha County was a dead tie. Bingman did well in east-central and northeastern Oklahoma, as well as southwestern Oklahoma, but lost most of the Tulsa metro excluding his old Senate District in Creek County.


    Anthony won 47 counties, but lost 13 counties to Bingman that he had won in the primary. In addition to the counties that he flipped, Bingman won 16 counties.

    Friday, August 31, 2018

    Runoff election results recap


    The runoff election was held on Tuesday, and this is the first chance I've had to sit down and post about the results. There were some shockers, some nail-biters, and some expected results from the voting. Let's get right into it.

    Governor: Republican Kevin Stitt defeated Mick Cornett by nine points, 54.56% to 45.44%, winning all but nine counties (OKC metro and some north-central counties). Libertarian Chris Powell defeated Rex Lawhorn 59.07% to 40.93%. The two nominess will now face Democrat Drew Edmondson in the general election.

    Lieutenant Governor: Republican Matt Pinnell happily surprised me by handily defeating Dana Murphy 58.14% to 41.86%. Pinnell garnered the highest percentage and most votes of any candidate on the ballot Tuesday, winning 70 of 77 counties. Murphy lost both major metros, which she won in the primary, only pulling ahead in seven north-western counties. He faces Democrat Anastasia Pittman and Independent Ivan Holmes in the November election.

    State Auditor: Despite being massively outspent, Republican Cindy Byrd edged out Charlie Prater for a 951-vote victory. It was back and forth all night until the final 50 precincts reported their numbers. Byrd received 50.17% to Prater's 49.83%. Byrd will face Libertarian John Yeutter in the general (no Democrat filed).

    Attorney General: Republican Mike Hunter squeaked through the runoff on the edge of a knife, defeating Gentner Drummond by a mere 269 votes out of 296,000 cast. At 50.05% to 49.95%, this was the closest statewide race in quite some time. He will face Democrat Mark Myles in November.

    State Superintendent: Republican Joy Hofmeister beat challenger Linda Murphy 56.68% to 43.32%. She will face Democrat John Cox and Independent Larry Huff in the general.

    Labor Commissioner: AFL-CIO-backed Republican Leslie Osborn pulled out a victory over Cathy Costello, 52.35% to 47.65%. She will face Democrat Fred Dorrell and Independent Brandt Dismukes in November.

    Corporation Commissioner: Republican Bob Anthony emerged victorious once again, beating Brian Bingman 53.61% to 46.39%.  He will face Democrat Ashley McCray and Independent Jackie Short in the general election.

    1st Congressional District: Republican Kevin Hern defeated Tim Harris 54.92% to 45.08%. Democrat Tim Gilpin beat Amanda Douglas 59.38% to 40.62%. The two will face off in November.

    2nd Congressional District: Democrat Jason Nichols beat Clay Padgett 56.84% to 43.16%. He will face Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin, Libertarian Richard Castaldo, and Independent John Foreman in the general election.

    4th Congressional District: Democrat Mary Brannon defeated Fred Gipson 57.51% to 42.49%. She will face Republican Congressman Tom Cole and Independent Ruby Peters in November.

    5th Congressional District: Democrat Kendra Horn crushed Tom Guild 75.8% to 24.2%. She will face Republican Congressman Steve Russell in the general election.

    I'll address legislative runoffs in more detail in a later post, but of the 10 Republican incumbents who were in a runoff, six conservatives, one conservative defeated his challenger (and has no general election opponent), and all three moderates won.

    If you want to dig through the election results on your own, here are the results for the entire state, and here are the results by county.

    Sunday, August 26, 2018

    My picks for the 2018 Oklahoma GOP runoff


    Early and absentee voting is underway for the 2018 Oklahoma runoff election, with the bulk of ballots to be cast on Tuesday. As is my custom, I will be discussing my picks for the Republican races in this post.

    Some of these candidates I am in wholehearted support of. Others will receive my vote with some reservations or primarily because the other options are worse. If I've written a separate post on a particular race or candidate, their name will be hyperlinked, and you can read in more detail by clicking the link. Candidates that I enthusiastically support will be in bold.

    Governor: Kevin Stitt
    I will be voting for Kevin Stitt without reservation. The vulgar and crude direction Mick Cornett has taken with his campaign speaks volumes about his lack of character. Under Kevin Stitt, I believe we would have a Governor who is willing to hold the line and rein in government. Stitt is the only choice for conservatives in this runoff.

    Lieutenant Governor: Matt Pinnell
    I 100% support Matt Pinnell, and anticipate him making a great Lieutenant Governor.

    State Auditor: Cindy Byrd
    As Deputy State Auditor under Gary Jones, Byrd has been an major part of the work the Auditor's office has done during Jones' tenure. In the last eight years, she has uncovered over $10M in fraud and waste, leading to the indictment or resignation of six elected officials. She will carry on that stellar performance, and will continue to uncover waste in government. She has earned the endorsement of State Auditor Gary Jones, and I concur with his pick.

    The Auditor's race is one of the most crucial offices that we as Oklahomans vote on. If we get it right, the potential for holding government accountable and uncovering waste goes up. Get it wrong and corruption gets hidden.

    Charlie Prater is running a crooked campaign, and is literally supported by disgraced former politicians that the Auditor's office got convicted of crimes. Prater should not be allowed anywhere near the office of State Auditor.

    Attorney General: Mike Hunter
    I will be voting against Gentner Drummond. The race for Attorney General has been extraordinarily negative. Drummond in particular has been running a slimy race that is disgraceful of any person seeking the position of top law enforcement officer in the state.

    Hunter isn't clean as the wind-driven snow in this race, either, with both candidates exhibiting the worst stereotypes of slick, dirty lawyers slinging mud at each other. I'm quite frankly disgusted by this race. However, Drummond has far surpassed Hunter in dirty campaigning.

    Michael Bates makes a good argument (as usual) in favor of Hunter and in opposition of Drummond: "[I]n a time when freedom of conscience is under attack, particularly with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity, we need an Attorney General who will stand up for our rights, and Gentner Drummond is a major backer of a judicial candidate who believes that adoption agencies should be forced by government to violate their beliefs; Drummond himself refused to express an opinion on SB1140, which protects the rights of adoption agencies to make decisions in the best interests of the child and in accordance with their values."

    I am not a Mike Hunter fan, but Gentner Drummond and his handlers are running one of THE sleaziest, dirtiest campaigns I've ever witnessed. I cast a protest vote in the primary, but will vote Hunter in the runoff to keep Drummond and his ilk far away from public office.

    State Superintendent: Linda Murphy
    Incumbent Joy Hofmeister is in the pocket of the leftist unions that are the biggest problem facing education in Oklahoma. Linda Murphy led the charge against Common Core, and will bring much-needed reforms to the State Department of Education.

    Labor Commissioner: Cathy Costello
    Cathy Costello will continue the work done by her late husband, Labor Commissioner Mark Costello. She is facing Leslie Osborn, who over the past few years has compromised and tossed aside just about every conservative principle she once espoused. Osborn led the charge for higher taxes, voted to make it easier for the Legislature to raise taxes, and called for war to be waged against the principled conservatives in the Legislature. Tom Coburn has endorsed Costello, and I fully support her candidacy as well.

    Osborn has been running a nasty campaign against Costello, pushing bald-faced lies and misrepresentations about Costello's record and history. It should come as no surprise that she is being supported by the AFL-CIO and the same Hillary Clinton bundler that supports Mick Cornett, or that her campaign is being run by the same cabal that is running the extremely negative campaigns of Drummond and third-party groups attacking conservative legislators.

    Corporation Commissioner: Bob Anthony
    While I am not a fan of his having been on the Corporation Commissioner since before I was born, I do believe Anthony has been a solid conservative in his position (the same can't be said for most who have been on the Commission). His challenger is former State Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman, who ended his legislative career with a less-than-satisfactory Conservative Index score of 59. This is Anthony's last eligible race due to term limits.

    1st Congressional District: Tim Harris
    Kevin Hern's campaign has been supported by the moderate establishment wing of the DC GOP. Meanwhile, Tim Harris is being supported by OKWU President Everett Piper and former Congressman Jim Bridenstine's dad. The two best choices in this race were eliminated in the primary, and neither Harris nor Hern have major points that push themselves ahead of the other in my view. If I was in the 1st District, I'd vote for Tim Harris, while not expecting either of the two candidates to come close to Jim Bridenstine's conservatism.

    Legislative races
    The future direction of the Oklahoma Legislature is at stake this primary season. This past few legislative sessions, conservatives in the Legislature have fought and stood up for the taxpayer against an overwhelming onslaught of higher taxes and liberal policies, pushed by their own GOP leadership and governor. Freshmen classes for the last several elections have been major disappointments, co-opted by power-hungry moderates who have decided to wage civil war on conservatives.

    It is vitally important that proven conservative incumbents be reelected, and that new conservatives win in open seats or oust liberal compromisers.

    I don't know about candidates in all of the races, but I feel comfortable enough to make the following recommendations.

    HD10: Rep. Travis Dunlap
    HD14: Rep. George Faught
    HD20: Rep. Bobby Cleveland
    HD27: Dave Spaulding
    HD30: Kent Glesener
    HD36: Rep. Sean Roberts
    HD41: Denise Hader
    HD63: Rep. Jeff Coody
    HD68: Nicole Nixon
    HD79: Dan Hicks
    HD80: Rep. Mike Ritze
    HD101: Rep. Tess Teague

    Tulsa County Assessor: John Wright

    OTHER VIEWPOINTS:

    Michael Bates of BatesLine.com has a great post with his thoughts on the runoffs here. I agree with almost everything he wrote.
    KFAQ's Pat Campbell has done radio interviews with many statewide and legislative candidates here (some were eliminated in the primary).

    Thursday, August 23, 2018

    Pre-Runoff Finance Reports: other Statewide races


    Continuing through the pre-primary campaign finance reports, we'll now look at some of the remaining down-ballot statewide races. As in previous posts on this topic, the totals are campaign-to-date.

    STATE AUDITOR and INSPECTOR

    REPUBLICANS

    Charlie Prater (R)
    Total raised: $440,400.00 (includes $306,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $383,820.19
    Total cash-on-hand: $56,579.80
    Burn rate: 87.15%

    Cindy Byrd (R)
    Total raised: $119,198.79
    Total spent: $83,289.30
    Total cash-on-hand: $28,434.52
    Burn rate: 74.55%

    John Uzzo (R)
    Total raised: $350.00
    Total spent: $230.00
    Total cash-on-hand: $120.00

    LIBERTARIAN

    John Yeutter (L)
    Total raised: $4,243.96
    Total spent: $3,362.52
    Total cash-on-hand: $881.44
    Burn rate: 65.71%

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    REPUBLICANS

    Mike Hunter (R)
    Total raised: $2,147,986.11 (includes $700,000 personal loan)
    Total spent: $1,921,131.01
    Total cash-on-hand: $215,810.91
    Burn rate: 89.9%

    Gentner Drummond (R)
    Total raised: $2,166,641.60 (includes $1,280,000 personal loan)
    Total spent: $1,902,393.15
    Total cash-on-hand: $234,251.85
    Burn rate: 89.04%

    Angela Bonilla (R)
    Total raised: $1,506.44
    Total spent: $2,622.48
    Total cash-on-hand: $-1,297.48

    DEMOCRAT

    Mark Myles (D)
    Total raised: $36,549.18
    Total spent: $23,131.50
    Total cash-on-hand: $5,128.50
    Burn rate: 81.85%

    STATE TREASURER 

    Randy McDaniel (R)
    Total raised: $292,933.37
    Total spent: $42,878.59
    Total cash-on-hand: $248,624.23
    Burn rate: 14.71%

    Charles De Coune (I)
    Total raised: $17,797.00 (includes $5,000 loan)
    Total spent: $1,944.87
    Total cash-on-hand: $15,852.13
    Burn rate: 10.93%

    SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

    REPUBLICANS

    Joy Hofmeister (R)
    Total raised: $438,635.42
    Total spent: $333,510.01
    Total cash-on-hand: $102,780.52
    Burn rate: 76.44%

    Linda Murphy (R)
    Total raised: $21,913.93
    Total spent: $17,490.29
    Total cash-on-hand: $3,589.71
    Burn rate: 82.97%

    Will Farrell (R)
    Total raised: $3,168.00 ($2,268 in personal loans)
    Total spent: $3,053.45
    Total cash-on-hand: $114.55

    DEMOCRAT

    John Cox (D)
    Total raised: $22,386.74
    Total spent: $15,401.18
    Total cash-on-hand: $6,653.82
    Burn rate: 69.83%

    INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

    Glen Mulready (R)
    Total raised: $698,499.93
    Total spent: $571,340.26
    Total cash-on-hand: $120,761.43
    Burn rate: 82.55%

    Donald Chasteen (R)
    Total raised: $12,650.00
    Total spent: $11,229.25
    Total cash-on-hand: $1,420.75

    DEMOCRAT

    Kimberly Fobbs (D)
    Total raised: $18,060.00
    Total spent: $13,646.10
    Total cash-on-hand: $1,707.90
    Burn rate: 88.88%

    CORPORATION COMMISSIONER

    Bob Anthony (R)
    Total raised: $666,759.37 (includes $435,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $588,269.14
    Total cash-on-hand: $78,490.23
    Burn rate: 88.23%

    Brian Bingman (R)
    Total raised: $497,405.22 (includes $110,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $483,390.14
    Total cash-on-hand: $14,015.08
    Burn rate: 97.18%

    Harold Spradling (R)
    Total raised: $5,000 (all a personal loan)
    Total spent: $0
    Total cash-on-hand: $5,000

    DEMOCRATS

    Ashley McCray (D)
    Total raised: $12,128.46
    Total spent: $2,088.29
    Total cash-on-hand: $7,320.71
    Burn rate: 22.19%

    Blake Cummings (D)
    Total raised: $14,673.73 (includes $10,610 loan)
    Total spent: $14,191.68
    Total cash-on-hand: $-1,888.51
    Burn rate: 115.35%

    Beau Williams (D)
    Total raised: $71,633.74 (includes $21,500.00 loan)
    Total spent: $67,656.00
    Total cash-on-hand: $0

    Monday, August 06, 2018

    Poll: Stitt leads by 10%; other primary leaders ahead in their races


    The Remington Research Group has released an extensive new poll on all of the GOP runoff races.

    Remington Research Group GOP Runoff Poll (link 1,757 likely Republican runoff voters, conducted August 1st and 2nd.
    Overall MoE +/- 2.3%. 
    Governor:
    • Kevin Stitt- 47%
    • Mick Cornett - 37% 
    • Undecided - 16%
    Stitt leads Cornett in the 1st District (56%-28%), 2nd District (52%-28%), among conservatives (50%-35%), self-identified Christian voters (53%-32%), among Trump voters (54%-33%), and among Tea Party supporters (54%-25%).

    Cornett leads in the 5th District (47%-41%), among moderates (43%-39%), liberals (43%-21%), traditional Republicans (57%-28%), and libertarians (41%-34%).

    The 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts are tied up, with Stitt at 42% and Cornett at 41% in both.
    Lieutenant Governor:
    • Dana Murphy - 40% 
    • Matt Pinnell - 32% 
    • Undecided - 28%
    Murphy leads in the 1st District (36%-32%), 3rd District (46%-28%), 4th District (40%-33%), 5th District (46%-30%), among moderates (48%-22%), liberals (31%-20%), traditional GOP (50%-25%), Trump voters (40%-32%), libertarians (49%-27%) and Tea Party supporters (46%-19%).

    Pinnell leads in the 2nd District (35%-31%). Conservatives narrowly lean to Murphy (38%-35%) while Christian voters are tied at 37%.
    State Auditor:
    • Cindy Byrd - 35% 
    • Charlie Prater - 33% 
    • Undecided - 32%
    Most demographics are either a narrow Byrd lead or a statistical tie.
    Attorney General:
    • Mike Hunter - 46% 
    • Gentner Drummond - 37% 
    • Undecided - 17%
    Hunter leads in the 3rd District (48%-33%), 4th District (50%-32%), 5th District (51%-32%), among every ideological breakdown, and among traditional GOP, Christian, and Trump voters.

    Drummond leads in the 1st District (46%-39%), 2nd District (44%-40%), among libertarian (42%-39%) and Tea Party voters (44%-30%).
    State Superintendent:
    • Joy Hofmeister - 50% 
    • Linda Murphy - 33% 
    • Undecided - 17%
    Hofmeister leads in every demographic/ideological category.
    Labor Commissioner:
    • Cathy Costello - 40% 
    • Leslie Osborn - 32% 
    • Undecided - 28%
    Costello leads in the 1st District (41%-28%), 2nd District (38%-27%), 3rd District (38%-35%), and 5th District (47%-35%). She also leads among conservatives (43%-31%), traditional GOP (39%-35%), Christian (43%-33%), Trump supporters (39%-32%), and Tea Party supporters (51%-20%).

    Osborn leads among liberals (34%-24%), moderates (36%-35%), and libertarians (40%-39%). The 4th District is a 37%-37% tie.
    Corporation Commissioner:
    • Bob Anthony - 50% 
    • Brian Bingman - 30% 
    • Undecided - 20%
    Anthony leads every category except libertarian GOP, where Bingman leads 40% to 36%.

    Crosstabs for the poll can be viewed here.

    Monday, July 09, 2018

    Election Results Map: GOP Corporation Commission Primary


    For the latest installment in my Election Results Maps series, we now take a look at the GOP primary for Corporation Commission. As is my custom, I try to match primary results map colors to campaign logos when possible.

    As with every other Republican statewide race with three or more candidates, this one is going to the August runoff.

    Incumbent Commissioner Bob Anthony led the field with 47.16%, garnering a majority vote in 11 counties, and plurality leads in another 50 counties.

    Former Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman made it into the runoff with 38.42% of the vote, winning a majority in his home of Creek County, and plurality leads in 15 counties.

    Third-place candidate Harold Spradling took in 14.42% of the vote, but managed a second-place showing in Atoka, Coal, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, and McCurtain counties. Spradling has since endorsed Anthony.

    Monday, July 02, 2018

    OKAgFund endorses Corp. Comm. Bob Anthony


    State Farm/Ranch group endorses Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony

    July 2nd, 2018 -- Trusting that Bob Anthony will continue to stand up for Oklahoma’s farming and ranching families, late last week, OKAgFund, the political action committee of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, endorsed the Republican incumbent for re-election to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

    “Bob Anthony grew up serving customers in his family’s clothing stores, C.R. Anthony’s.  They sold school clothes and work clothes and home goods to hard-working families in more than 50 towns and cities all across the state.  Bob has never forgotten his family’s commitment to serving Oklahoma’s rural communities,” said Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel.  “He has stood up for small businesses and against powerful special interests, and we have confidence he will continue to listen to our concerns and treat us fairly.”

    “It’s an honor to receive the OKAgFund endorsement,” said Anthony.  “I grew up in a family business, and Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers epitomize the commitment it takes to keep a business going across multiple generations.  They believe in Oklahoma values – especially strong families, strong communities, and a strong work ethic – and so do I.”

    “In addition to protecting private property rights and the environment while at the commission, Bob Anthony incentivized the roll-out of high-speed Internet to more than 100 towns and cities across Oklahoma, many of them in rural, agricultural areas.  And he did it through regulatory reform, not tax increases,” said former president of the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association Danny Geis of Hitchcock.  “Having access to these new technologies has helped bring distance learning to our schools, and telemedicine to our rural hospitals, and allowed our local businesses to connect to markets worldwide.  Bob Anthony understands that with equal consideration and the right tools, rural Oklahoma economies can not only survive, but thrive.”

    A non-partisan organization of farm and ranch families, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau has many members who voluntarily support qualified candidates to public office through the OKAgFund – candidates who have demonstrated beliefs and actions consistent with Oklahoma Farm Bureau policies.

    Having won 51 of 77 Oklahoma counties and dominated the vote in most of the state’s rural areas during the primary, Anthony faces term-limited former legislator Brian Bingman in the August 28 runoff election for the Republican nomination.

    Thursday, June 28, 2018

    Anthony endorsed by third-place candidate


    Third Republican Commission Candidate Endorses Bob Anthony

    Teacher and counselor Harold Spradling, who finished third in Tuesday’s Republican primary for Corporation Commissioner, endorsed incumbent Bob Anthony today, saying Anthony has done a great job in the post and should continue.

    “Bob Anthony is a man I greatly admire,” Spradling said. “His record proves that he stands up for consumers and against corruption.  He’s brought transparency and auditing and fairness to the Corporation Commission, and we still need him looking out for us and fighting for us.  I’m grateful he’s willing.”

    Spradling, who actually contributed to Anthony’s campaign before the primary, said he would be campaigning for Anthony in the runoff and beyond.  “I’ve enjoyed getting out on the campaign trail this year, meeting the people.  I told Bob my support for him wouldn’t just be nominal; I plan to continue to get out there – only speaking up for him this time.”

    “I’m honored to have Harold’s support,” said Bob Anthony.  “He believes, as I do, that public service should be about serving the people, not lining your own pockets.  My remaining opponent and I both have long records in public office.  I’m pleased Harold has examined them and decided my record of honesty, fairness and protecting consumers is the one that should continue.”

    Asked why, at 84, he ran for the office to begin with, Spradling said, “My beef was never with Bob Anthony.  I was mad at Washington and the hateful, vindictive tone of everything.  I wanted to show you can run for office and still be honest and decent.  I’ve done that; so has Bob Anthony.  Now I’ll carry the torch for him.”

    The Runoff Election is August 28.

    Tuesday, June 19, 2018

    Pre-Primary Finance Reports: other Statewide races


    Continuing through the pre-primary campaign finance reports, we'll now look at some of the remaining down-ballot statewide races. As in previous posts on this topic, the totals are campaign-to-date.

    STATE AUDITOR and INSPECTOR

    REPUBLICANS

    Charlie Prater (R)
    Total raised: $196,750.00 (includes $73,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $173,746.15
    Total cash-on-hand: $23,003.85
    Burn rate: 88.31%

    Cindy Byrd (R)
    Total raised: $83,022.00
    Total spent: $51,003.32
    Total cash-on-hand: $24,682.71
    Burn rate: 67.39%

    John Uzzo - $1,050 in in-kind expenditures, nothing else raised or spent

    LIBERTARIAN

    John Yeutter (L)
    Total raised: $3,301.56
    Total spent: $3,120.12
    Total cash-on-hand: $181.44
    Burn rate: 94.50%

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    REPUBLICANS

    Mike Hunter (R)
    Total raised: $1,291,093.11 (includes $300,000 personal loan)
    Total spent: $1,028,171.31
    Total cash-on-hand: $253,177.61
    Burn rate: 80.24%

    Gentner Drummond (R)
    Total raised: $1,282,924.05 (includes $875,000 personal loan)
    Total spent: $1,199,049.19
    Total cash-on-hand: $68,425.81
    Burn rate: 94.60%

    Angela Bonilla (R)
    Total raised: $1,431.44
    Total spent: $1,152.50
    Total cash-on-hand: $97.50
    Burn rate: 92.20%

    DEMOCRAT

    Mark Myles (D)
    Total raised: $16,638.39
    Total spent: $6,305.54
    Total cash-on-hand: $1,014.46
    Burn rate: 86.14%

    STATE TREASURER 

    Randy McDaniel (R)
    Total raised: $289,783.37
    Total spent: $35,333.75
    Total cash-on-hand: $253,019.07
    Burn rate: 12.25%

    Charles De Coune (I)
    Total raised: $6,050
    Total spent: $396.51
    Total cash-on-hand: $5,653.49
    Burn rate: 6.55%

    SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

    REPUBLICANS

    Joy Hofmeister (R)
    Total raised: $279,845.42
    Total spent: $168,447.86
    Total cash-on-hand: $109,552.67
    Burn rate: 60.59%

    Linda Murphy (R)
    Total raised: $14,338.93
    Total spent: $5,735.21
    Total cash-on-hand: $7,769.79
    Burn rate: 42.47%

    Will Farrell (R)
    Total raised: $2,768.00 ($2,268 in personal loans)
    Total spent: $2,743.60
    Total cash-on-hand: $24.40
    Burn rate: 99.12%

    DEMOCRAT

    John Cox (D)
    Total raised: $15,300.00
    Total spent: $2,867.46
    Total cash-on-hand: $12,432.54
    Burn rate: 18.74%

    INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

    Glen Mulready (R)
    Total raised: $591,098.40
    Total spent: $489,694.20
    Total cash-on-hand: $95,555.96
    Burn rate: 83.67%

    Donald Chasteen (R)
    Total raised: $7,900.00
    Total spent: $3,214.68
    Total cash-on-hand: $4,685.32
    Burn rate: 40.69%

    DEMOCRAT

    Kimberly Fobbs (D)
    Total raised: $9,024.00
    Total spent: $5,865.30
    Total cash-on-hand: $2,908.70
    Burn rate: 66.85%

    CORPORATION COMMISSIONER

    Bob Anthony (R)
    Total raised: $510,375.00 (includes $360,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $374,743.55
    Total cash-on-hand: $135,631.45
    Burn rate: 73.43%

    Brian Bingman (R)
    Total raised: $418,029.22 (includes $100,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $268,620.71
    Total cash-on-hand: $149,408.51
    Burn rate: 64.26%

    Harold Spradling (R)
    Total raised: $5,000 (all a personal loan)
    Total spent: $0
    Total cash-on-hand: $5,000
    Burn rate: 0%

    DEMOCRATS

    Beau Williams (D)
    Total raised: $37,573.74 (includes $1,500.00 loan)
    Total spent: $14,721.81
    Total cash-on-hand: $18,874.19
    Burn rate: 43.82%

    Blake Cummings (D)
    Total raised: $11,845.56 (includes $10,000 loan)
    Total spent: $2,812.41
    Total cash-on-hand: $7,662.59
    Burn rate: 26.85%

    Ashley McCray (D)
    Total raised: $1,868.00
    Total spent: $557.65
    Total cash-on-hand: $1,310.35
    Burn rate: 29.85%

    Tuesday, May 15, 2018

    1Q Campaign Finance Reports for other Statewide races


    Continuing through the 1st Quarter campaign finance reports, we'll now look at some of the remaining down-ballot statewide races. As in previous posts on this topic, the totals are campaign-to-date. Some candidates filed for these offices, but did not announce their candidacy in time to collect 1st Quarter contributions.

    STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR

    Charlie Prater (R)
    Total raised: $106,150.00 (includes $73,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $32,165.22
    Total cash-on-hand: $73,984.78
    Burn rate: 30.3%

    Cindy Byrd (R)
    Total raised: $32,248.97
    Total spent: $12,712.38
    Total cash-on-hand: $14,762.62
    Burn rate: 46.27%

    John Yeutter (L)
    Total raised: $1,806.56
    Total spent: $584.80
    Total cash-on-hand: $1,221.76
    Burn rate: 32.37%

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    Mike Hunter (R)
    Total raised: $690,698.39
    Total spent: $272,477.06
    Total cash-on-hand: $408,902.94
    Burn rate: 39.99%

    STATE TREASURER 

    Randy McDaniel (R)
    Total raised: $280,904.92
    Total spent: $28,017.71
    Total cash-on-hand: $251,456.66
    Burn rate: 10.03%

    SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

    Joy Hofmeister (R)
    Total raised: $185,725.33
    Total spent: $57,913.86
    Total cash-on-hand: $126,969.67
    Burn rate: 31.32%

    John Cox (D)
    Total raised: $8,250.00
    Total spent: $0
    Total cash-on-hand: $8,250.00
    Burn rate: 0%

    INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

    Glen Mulready (R)
    Total raised: $571,863.64
    Total spent: $175,512.47
    Total cash-on-hand: $386,757.69
    Burn rate: 31.21%

    CORPORATION COMMISSIONER

    Bob Anthony (R)
    Total raised: $454,200.00 (includes $360,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $1,040.86
    Total cash-on-hand: $453,159.14
    Burn rate: 0.23%

    Brian Bingman (R)
    Total raised: $388,179.22 (includes $100,000.00 loan)
    Total spent: $26,398.51
    Total cash-on-hand: $361,780.71
    Burn rate: 6.8%

    Saturday, June 23, 2012

    J.C. Watts supporting Brooks Mitchell


    The race for Corporation Commissioner is always a quiet affair (the exception being Dana Murphy vs. Jim Roth in 2008), but this year's race between incumbent Bob Anthony and Brooks Mitchell has been even more of a sleeper.

    Until now.

    I just received a robocall from the Mitchell campaign, with former Corporation Commissioner and Congressman J.C. Watts endorsing Mitchell, and voicing the call. I don't have a transcript, and have not found audio or a transcript of the call from the Mitchell campaign, but I have a request in. Watts talked about Mitchell being a social and fiscal conservative, and about Anthony being a "career politician".


    I will update this when I receive more information. 

    UPDATE: I contacted the Mitchell campaign for a transcript of the call, and Communications director Stephen Rhymer said, "While the campaign did provide input on the text of Cong. Watts' call, the script is pure Cong. Watts and we don't have a printed copy."

    Brooks Mitchell's official comment on the call: "The phone call from Cong. Watts to Republican voters sends a strong message to all Oklahomans that he actively supports me in my race to unseat Bob Anthony. Watts realizes that by electing me, Oklahoma will get real leadership and the work ethic, drive and determination to do what's best for all Oklahomans at the Corporation Commission."