Dan Boren won't run for Governor in 2018

In an announcement today, former Democrat congressman Dan Boren has decided against running for governor in 2018. This is essentially the Oklahoma Democratic Party conceding the race to the GOP, as Boren was their best (and perhaps only) shot at taking the governor's mansion back.

From reporter Sean Murphy with the Associated Press:

Dan Boren decides not to run for Oklahoma governor in 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Dan Boren, a former four-term Democratic congressman from one of Oklahoma's most well-known political families, has decided not to run for the state's open governor seat in 2018.

Boren told The Associated Press that he opted against entering the campaign after spending the past year visiting with civic and business leaders across the state about a potential run.

"At this moment, it is important for me to spend time with my kids," Boren said late Monday. "My desire for public service has not diminished and I believe some day in the future I will enter public life again."

The 43-year-old Boren said he intends to continue working on business development for the Chickasaw Nation and spend time with his two children, ages 6 and 9.

In an interview with the AP earlier this year, Boren had said he was actively exploring a run to replace Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who is prohibited by term limits from seeking a third four-year term in office.

Boren served one term as a state representative before running successfully for Congress in 2004 in the 2nd Congressional District in eastern Oklahoma, a seat he held for eight years before stepping down.

His grandfather, Lyle Boren, was a congressman and his father, University of Oklahoma President David Boren, is a former Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator. Dan Boren's first cousin, Janna Little, is married to current House Speaker Paul Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice-presidential nominee.

The Oklahoma governor's seat in 2018 is expected to draw interest from strong candidates on both sides of the aisle. Potential Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Treasurer Ken Miller and Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Lamb, Miller and Pruitt all are term-limited from their current offices, and Bridenstine has said he wouldn't seek a fourth term in Congress in 2018.

Prominent Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson, who ran as an independent for governor in 2002, said Tuesday he is taking a "very serious look" at running as a Republican in 2018.

Possible Democratic candidates include ex-state Rep. Joe Dorman, who won 41 percent of the vote against Fallin in 2014 despite being heavily outspent, and Oklahoma House Minority Leader Scott Inman of Del City.

Dan Boren looking at Governor's race in 2018

Dan Boren exploring run for Oklahoma governor in 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —Dan Boren, a former Democratic congressman from one of Oklahoma's most distinguished political families, says he's actively exploring a run for Oklahoma's open governor seat in 2018.

After spending the last three years working on business development for the Chickasaw Nation, Boren told The Associated Press that he's started meeting with state political and business leaders and developing policy proposals in preparation for a potential candidacy.

"I am taking all of the necessary steps to become a candidate for governor and I will make a final decision at the end of this year," Boren said in an interview Friday. "I began taking some of those steps late last year by visiting with business leaders, community leaders, civic leaders, also legislative leaders."

Boren, 42, hasn't started raising money or interviewing political consultants, but said he believes there is a "very doable" path for a Democrat to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, despite GOP dominance at the polls in the last several cycles in Oklahoma.

Read more here.

Russell in for 5th District; Boren, Askins say no to Senate

In further developments for Oklahoma's 2014 election, former state senator Steve Russell tells the McCarville Report that he will seek the Republican nomination for the 5th Congressional District.

On the Democrat side for U.S. Senate, former congressman Dan Boren and former lieutenant governor Jari Askins told the AP that they would not be running for Tom Coburn's senate seat. At the same time, former state senator Kenneth Corn said he is considering running.

Lankford in top 25 Most Frugal Congressmembers of 2012

click on graphic to view larger

Recent figures released by the U.S. House of Representatives show that Oklahoma Congressman James Lankford (R-Dist. 5) was among the most fiscally frugal Representatives in Washington in 2012. Lankford used 78.74% of his allocated office budget of $1,370,399, making him the 17th lowest spender in the House.

With the sequester, members will have to cut 8.2% from their budget - and according to Jamie Dupree, some will have a harder time doing so than others (120 Congressmembers spent over 95% of their budgets in 2012, while only 22 spent less than 80%). Each member has a different sized budget (no district is the same, and there are numerous factors that relate to specific budget amounts per district), so percentages tell more than raw numbers when comparing spending.

Oklahoma's five members ranked accordingly (out of 435):

17 of the top 25 most frugal members were Republican, while 7 were Democratic.

Other members of note:

• 1st - Jim Jordan (R-OH): spent 63.35%, the least of all. Jordan chaired the Republican Study Committee (the conservative wing of the GOP caucus)
• 9th - Justin Amash (R-MI): spent 75.83%. Rising libertarian/conservative star who explains every vote he casts on his Facebook page.
• 25th - Paul Ryan (R-WI): spent 81.41%. Chairman of the House Budget Committee. 2012 GOP VP nominee.
• 40th - Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): spent 82.90%. House Minority Leader.
• 56th - John Boehner (R-OH): spent 84.15%. Speaker of the House.
• 64th - Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): spent 84.91%. Majority Whip.
• 102nd - Allen West (R-FL): spent 87.29%. Tea Party star, defeated in 2012 election.
• 144th - Pete Sessions (R-TX): spent 89.31%. Former NRCC Chairman.
• 166th - Steny Hoyer (D-MD): spent 90.38%. Minority Whip.
• 197th - Eric Cantor (R-VA): spent 91.22%. House Majority Leader.
• 219th - Barney Frank (D-MA): spent 91.85%. No longer in office.
• 281st - Michele Bachmann (R-MN): spent 93.82%. 2012 presidential primary candidate.
• 350th - Steve Scalise (R-LA): spent 95.84%. Replaced Jim Jordan as 2013 RSC Chairman.
• 360th - Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-FL): spent 96.12%. DNC Chairwoman.
• 399th - Ron Paul (R-TX): spent 97.30%. 2008 and 2012 presidential primary candidate. Libertarian hero.
• 403rd - Mike Pence (R-IN): spent 97.41%. Now Governor of Indiana.
• 404th - Dennis Kucinich (D-OH): spent 97.44%. 2008 presidential primary candidate. Lost in primary 2012.
• 430th - Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL): spent 98.98%. Set to go to prison for campaign fraud.
• 435th - Nan Hayworth (R-NY): spent 99.91%, the most of all. Lost re-election bid.

Here is the entire list:

Congressmembers by Budget Spending, 2012 by

Romney Picks Paul Ryan for VP

Mitt Romney announced this morning that he was tapping Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. Ryan, aged 42, is the current Chairman of the House Budget Committee. He is extremely sharp and articulate, and comes from a swing state that will be crucial in the November elections.

Ryan happens to have close ties to Oklahoma - his wife Janna is from the Madill area, and is Congressman Dan Boren's cousin.

Boren stars in lighthearted video - "5 Things Before I Leave Congress"

With all of the disappointing and appalling news that often comes out of the political world, a little levity is needed from time to time. Oklahoma's 2nd District Congressman Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) was the star of a pretty humorous interview on Capitol Hill this week.

Andrew Heaton of ClotureClub.com asked the retiring congressman if there was "anything you've done or would like to do before leaving Congress". Whatever political differences you may have with the Blue Dog Congressman, the ensuing video is a must-see!




Congressman, I laughed the whole way through - well done!

Faught: strong fundraising quarter, 80% from within CD2

Faught Off to Strong Start, Raises over $105,000

Faught receives support from across the district.

Muskogee, OK — Muskogee businessman and conservative state legislator, George Faught, announced today that he has raised $105,331.00 during his first quarter of fundraising in his bid to be the next Congressman from the 2nd District of Oklahoma. Faught, who is making his first run for Congress, announced on July 14th his intention to run for the seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Dan Boren.

"Our campaign has gotten off to a great start both in fundraising and grassroots support," said George Faught. "The contributions we have received so far, as well as the number of like-minded individuals who are uniting with us is truly humbling and energizing. Over 80% of our donations have come from people who live and vote in the 2nd District. It really shows that they are ready to send a tried, true and genuine conservative fighter to Congress to stand up to the politics of the Obama Administration."

George Faught is in his 3rd term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and represents a 70% registered Democrat district located within the boundaries of the 2nd Congressional District.

"Our shared conservative values have been under attack for years, and the power to stop this onslaught lies with the people of this great nation. Alone we may not be able to do much, but if we unite, together we can accomplish many great things," said Faught. "This is just an early step in our battle to return the 2nd District and Congress to the principles our nation was founded on, and away from the special interests and liberal politics of Washington. I want to thank all of the folks who have signed on with our campaign so far, and look forward to traveling across this fine district in the coming months."

Staunchly pro-life, pro-business, and pro-limited government, Faught was recently endorsed by the Concerned Women PAC and the Can-Do Conservatives of America. In 2010, Faught received the top 'Limited Government' rating from Oklahomans for Sovereignty and Free Enterprise (OK-SAFE). He was honored in 2011 as ‘Representative of the Year’ by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Faught lives in Muskogee with his wife, Becky, and is the father of three grown children. You can learn more about George and his campaign by visiting his website, and by following him on Twitter and Facebook.

No Congressional Run for Corn

Former State Senator Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau) announced today that he will not be running to succeed Congressman Dan Boren in the 2nd Congressional District, following the recent death of his mother.


"After much soul searching and because of pressing personal matters brought on by the heart-breaking death of my mother only days ago, I have decided that I will not be a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Dan Boren," Corn said in a statement on Facebook.

"Previously I had indicated I would likely be a candidate and that was very true. However, my mother's passing has changed my needs and the needs of my family, and I know that the needs of my house far outreach the importance of a seat in the House."

Corn's exit leaves no visible Democrat candidate in the works; presently, there are nearly ten Republicans who have either announced their candidacy or are considering running for the seat (ironically, several of those individuals live outside of the 2nd District).

Back in June, Public Policy Polling conducted a survey of the district on behalf of Brad Carson, who at the time was considering running, but ultimately decided to not run. The poll found that Corn was essentially tied with State Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee), even though Corn had built up name recognition from his 2010 statewide campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

With both Carson and Corn out of the running, things are looking bad for the Democrats.

Saturday: George Faught for Congress Kickoff Rally, 2nd District GOP meeting

George Faught for Congress Kickoff Rally

(Muskogee, OK) - The George Faught for Congress campaign invites the public to its kickoff rally this Saturday, July 30th, to announce his run for the 2nd District Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Dan Boren in 2012.

“America faces challenging times ahead that will require tough decisions,” Faught stated. “I am ready to take Oklahoma’s common sense, conservative approach to tackle the difficult issues in Washington D.C.”

The rally will be held at the Muskogee Civic Center outdoor pavilion (4th and Okmulgee) at 11:00am.  The press is invited to attend. Following the rally will be the quarterly 2nd District GOP meeting held at the Farm Bureau building (28 East Shawnee Road). An optional lunch is provided for $5 per person.

Faught Launches Congressional Campaign

Faught Launches Congressional Campaign

MUSKOGEE  -  State Representative George Faught (R-Muskogee) announced today his candidacy for Congress in Oklahoma's Second District, a seat currently held by Rep. Dan Boren. Faught  (pronounced ‘Fŏt’)  formed an exploratory committee to consider a possible run after Rep. Boren’s announcement that he would not seek re-election in 2012.

“The citizens of eastern Oklahoma deserve a proven leader to represent their conservative values in Washington, D.C.” declared Faught. “Today, our country has arrived at a critical crossroads. Out of control spending and unsustainable debt have brought America to the verge of economic collapse. We are engaged in a battle over what kind of country we’re going to leave for our children and grandchildren, and I am ready to fight for their future.”

Faught, currently serving his third term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, became the first Republican in state history to win the State House District 14 seat, in an area with over 70% Democratic registration.  District 14  encompasses portions of eastern Muskogee and western Cherokee Counties.

“I have always enjoyed strong bi-partisan support. Regardless of party affiliation, Oklahomans are conservative, and deserve conservative representation. They want God-honoring, pro-life, pro-gun, Constitution-supporting elected officials.” stated Faught.  “The encouragement I have received to run for Congress has been overwhelming.”

Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District covers the eastern third of the state, stretching from Kansas to Texas and includes 26 counties. Over the past few election cycles, trends have shown that while the district is registered heavily Democratic, the voters are conservative.

“I have a very strong attachment to the 2nd District. I have lived and worked here for 48 of my 49 years, and I have a vested interest in seeing our district prosper,” Faught said. “Washington politicians have gotten the nation off course, but together we can take our country back.”

Faught and his wife, Becky, have been married for nearly 29 years. They live in Muskogee and have three grown children, Tyler, Jamison and Savannah.  They have owned and operated a carpet cleaning business serving communities in eastern Oklahoma for the past 24 years.

The George Faught for Congress campaign will be holding a kickoff event on Saturday, July 30th, at the Muskogee Civic Center at 11:00 a.m.  You can visit Faught’s website at www.GeorgeFaught.com, follow him on Twitter at @GeorgeFaught, and like his Facebook page at facebook.com/GeorgeFaught. To contact by phone, call (918) 682-8383, and by email at  info@georgefaught.com.

AFP visiting Boren to push for Balanced Budget Amendment

Americans for Prosperity Activists Push for 

Balanced Budget Amendment

-Grassroots visits Representative Boren’s district offices urging spending cuts-

Muskogee — We Need Congressman Dan Boren to Support a Balanced Budget!  Oklahoma families understand that they must balance their budgets. Politicians in Washington, DC don’t.  That’s why AFP supports a Balanced Budget Amendment.

This Thursday, July 14th, we are asking you to visit Congressman Dan Boren’s district offices and encourage him to support a Balanced Budget Amendment. Take 15 minutes out of your day and make a difference!

The Oklahoma chapter of the free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity will join a huge coalition of conservative and tea party organizations in a nationwide effort to visit U.S. House Members’ district offices.  The grassroots message this coalition will carry is that representatives must support a balanced budget amendment to U.S. Constitution that has spending caps and a requirement for a supermajority vote to raise taxes.  

“Our grassroots are really worked up about the need for this balanced budget amendment, with tough limits on spending and taxes.  State and local governments all need to work each year to bring their books into order and it’s long past time that the federal government take similar steps,” said Oklahoma State Director Stuart Jolly.  “We’re going to visit Congressman Boren’s district offices because he needs to know how important this amendment is to free market grassroots activists all across this country.”

What: National District Office Day on the Balanced Budget Amendment
When: Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 12:00 Noon.
Who: Americans for Prosperity Grassroots Activists (open to all!)
Where:

1. Muskogee Office, 431 W. Broadway, Muskogee, OK 74401, (918) 687-2533
2. Claremore Office, 309 W. 1st Street, Claremore, OK 74017, (918) 341-9336
3. McAlester Office, 25 East Carl Albert Parkway, Suite B, McAlester, OK 74501, (918) 423-5951
4. Durant Office, 112 N. 12th Avenue, Durant, OK 74701, (580) 931-0333

The national day of district office visits comes just days before the U.S. House will vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment.  Next week, the U.S. House will vote on H.J. Res. 1, offered by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R.-Va.), which has received widespread conservative support.

H.J. Res. 1 requires:

• Revenues to match outlays
• Limit spending to 18 percent of GDP
• Supermajority vote in Congress to raise taxes
• Supermajority vote in Congress to raise the debt ceiling
• The President must submit a budget to Congress that balances
• Several other important provisions

See you at one of the offices list below on Thursday!


Stuart A. Jolly
Oklahoma State Director
Americans for Prosperity
LTC, US Army (Ret)

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best way to safeguard individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 1.7 million members, including members in all 50 states, and 31 state chapters and affiliates. More than 85,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

State Rep. George Faught to explore congressional run

MUSKOGEE -  State Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee) said today that he is forming a committee to explore the possibility of running for U.S. House, following Congressman Dan Boren’s announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2012.

“I will be sitting down and discussing this with individuals across the 2nd District.  My phone has been ringing off the wall with people encouraging me to run for Congress, and I owe it to my supporters to think long and hard about doing so,” Faught said.

Rep. Faught was first elected with strong bipartisan support to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives in 2006, representing House District 14, which covers portions of Muskogee and Cherokee counties.  He was re-elected in 2008, and drew no opposition in 2010.  Faught was the first Republican in state history to represent House District 14.

“With the crisis America faces, we need to look beyond party politics and do what’s right for our state and our nation.  My family and I will be in prayer over this matter in the coming days, and I would ask that you join me in prayer for guidance.”

[blogger's note/disclaimer: I am George's son]

STUNNER: Boren to not seek re-election

In a stunning development today that will redefine the 2012 election in Oklahoma, U.S. Congressman Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) will be announcing today that he will not seek re-election in 2012.

From NewsOK.com:

WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma's congressional delegation, plans to announce Tuesday that he won't seek reelection in 2012, leaving open his seat that spans much of eastern Oklahoma.

A source close to Boren said he will make an official announcement at 2 p.m. in his hometown of Muskogee.

Former Oklahoma Congressman Brad Carson said Tuesday that he would run for the seat he held just before Boren won it in 2004. Carson, a professor at the University of Tulsa, gave up the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Carson lost to Sen. Tom Coburn.

 More information to come later today.  I will try to attend this announcement this afternoon to get more details about Boren's decision.

A sign of things to come? NRCC making robocalls against Boren

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of the U.S. House GOP, is out with a new robocall in Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District blasting Congressman Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) for voting against GOP budget bills.

CNN reports that the NRCC is also targeting other Democrat House members with similar ad or phone campaigns. Most of the targets are vulnerable 'Blue Dogs'.

Boren had his closest race yet in 2010, receiving 56.5% of the vote. If the Republicans can field a viable candidate, it appears that the NRCC is willing to step up and help.

[note - I received one of the NRCC robocalls]

Hulbert School Board Member Removed

The Tahlequah Daily Press reports that Hulbert school board member Charles Thompson was removed from office Monday for failing to meet professional development requirements set by state law.

School officials recently discovered Thompson had not accrued required professional development hours within his first 15 months on the board. According to state law, the board is required to make a seat vacant if the person elected to it hasn’t acquired 12 hours of professional development classes in that time frame.

“I want to apologize to everybody on the board, because I have clearly dropped the ball here on this,” said Thompson.  “This is not something I take lightly, and honestly, I hadn’t been keeping track of things myself. I think I got 15 or 18 hours all together, something like that. The classes I was attending, or the lectures I was attending, I thought counted toward that new-member training, and it didn’t.”  Thompson said some seminars he attended did count.

Thompson was asked if he had received letters from the state showing how many hours he had taken; he said that he had gotten a few letters.

“And when I first got elected, I went to a two-day seminar in Oklahoma City, and they gave me this nice, fancy little badge and told me I needed to take that with me and check in at each lecture, and that was the only time that I got to use it, because each time after that, they’d issue a new one, and I just wonder,” said Thompson. “They’ve got accountability for all of the hours, but, you know, honestly I wonder if there was some confusion, some misaccounting, if you will, on someone else’s part at the state level. Completely irrelevant, because I should be keeping track of it myself.”

Read more at this link. The seat remains vacant for the time being.

Thompson ran for Congress in 2010, and eventually became the Republican nominee. He received 43% of the vote against sitting 2nd District Congressman Dan Boren (D-Muskogee). This instance isn't the first time Thompson has had paperwork problems.

Boren: solving deficit and debt is the main issue

Congressman Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) spoke to a crowd of over 150 at his town hall yesterday in Muskogee, focusing on topics like the budget deficit and national debt.

The atmosphere of the meeting was calmer and more subdued than it was during the summer of 2009, but was still concerned about government spending and intrusion. Boren spoke positively of the Tea Party movement, and the new focus on fixing our nation's fiscal situation.

The congressman began the meeting by running through some quick figures dealing with the debt level and budget deficit. Boren said that, while we need to cut discretionary spending, entitlements like Social Security and Medicare are the big problem. Due to the "sacred cow" nature of entitlements, politicians don't want to take risks and make the needed reforms, but that's what our future depends on, Boren said.

Boren drew applause when he said that he voted to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and the President's "czars".

The congressman had a very relaxed attitude about his political future. He knows that his seat isn't guaranteed, and he said that he's perfectly fine with not being in Washington for a long time - in fact, he doesn't plan on staying in office for a long period of time.

Boren said that while the House will end up cutting nearly $100B from the budget, the Senate likely won't cut much. He predicted a final deal being cut between the two houses at somewhere around $30B, which would still leave a deficit of nearly $1.5 trillion. He hinted that he would vote to raise the debt ceiling, but with corresponding budget cuts.

He also said that he is a regular reader of MuskogeePolitico.com, so... hello Mr. Congressman!

I tweeted updates during the town hall, so for other points, search Twitter for #BorenTownHall (or click the link)

Boren to hold Muskogee town hall Friday

U.S. Congressman Dan Boren will be holding his weather-postponed Muskogee town hall meeting tomorrow afternoon. Originally, scheduled for the first week of February, but canceled due to snow, the town hall will be held tomorrow at 1pm, at the Bacone College Chapel (2299 Old Bacone Road in Muskogee).

From his press release:

"Town hall meetings are great opportunities for constituents in eastern Oklahoma to come together as a community and share their thoughts and concerns, as well as ask questions about legislation being considered by Congress," Boren said. "I hope these events are well attended as communication is a key part of my representation of the 25 counties in the Second Congressional District of Oklahoma. I know the dialogue expressed during town hall meetings greatly assists me," Boren said. "I invite you to join me."

Boren postpones town halls due to weather

As a result of the heavy snow today, Congressman Dan Boren has postponed his scheduled town halls for today and tomorrow.

POSTPONED:

• Tuesday, Feb. 1st - Stillwell
• Tuesday, Feb. 1st - Tahlequah
• Wednesday, Feb. 2nd - Sallisaw
• Wednesday, Feb. 2nd - Muskogee

RESCHEDULED:

• Friday, Feb. 4th - Stillwell (Adair County Courthouse, 9:00am)
• Friday, Feb. 4th - Tahlequah (Tahlequah Armory, 12:30pm)

The Sallisaw and Muskogee town hall meetings have not been rescheduled yet, but further announcements will be made on Congressman Boren's website.

General Election Results - CD2

Huckabee Endorses Charles Thompson for Congress

Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee endorsed 2nd District congressional candidate Charles Thompson yesterday.

“Huck PAC and I are pleased to support Charles Thompson for Congress, from Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District. Charles served our country honorably in the United States Army for over two decades.

As a small business owner, Charles successfully operated a veterinary hospital, and understands the difficulties facing small business owners. Charles is adamantly opposed to government-run healthcare, TARP, Cap & Trade and the bailouts.

Charles Thompson shares our conservative values, like the sanctity of life and traditional marriage between one man and one woman. An ardent supporter of the 2nd amendment, Charles is also a longtime member of the National Rifle Association.

Please join me in supporting Charles Thompson, and let’s send him to Congress.”

Huckabee is the first major national figure to endorse in the 2nd District race.