Hornback, Rep. Boles announce campaigns for Corporation Commission

Two Republicans have announced their candidacies for the Corporation Commission seat currently held by Todd Hiett (R): current State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) and two-time candidate Justin Hornback. Hornback finished 3rd in the 2022 GOP primary with 20.4% (narrowly missing a runoff with eventual winner Dana Murphy) and placed 2nd in the 2024 GOP primary with 28.7%. In the middle of his fourth legislative term, Boles has held the House District 51 seat since winning a special election in 2018 (he has not faced a challenger since).

Both candidates' press release announcements are below:

State Rep. Biggs resigns, creates 10th vacancy this term

State Rep. Scott Biggs (R-Chickasha) announced late yesterday that he is resigning his legislative seat effective immediately in order to take "a federal appointment" related to the agriculture industry. NonDoc reports that Biggs "will become executive director of the U.S. Farm Service Agency".

Biggs was chairman of the House Criminal Justice & Corrections Committee, where he drew ire for holding up some reform measures. Biggs also was perhaps the most self-promoting member of the Legislature -- one of the more frequent press releases I've received this year was when Rep. Biggs was given an award by some group.

His resignation creates the 10th vacant seat in the Legislature since the 2016 general election just shy of twelve months ago.

Legislative resignations since November 2016:

• State Rep. Tom Newell (R) - private sector job
• State Rep. Dan Kirby (R) - sexual harassment allegations
• State Rep. Scott Martin (R) - private sector job
• State Sen. Ralph Shortey (R) - felony child prostitution charges
• State Rep. David Brumbaugh (R) - sudden death
• State Sen. Kyle Loveless (R) - campaign finance violations
• State Sen. Dan Newberry (R) - private sector job
• State Sen. Bryce Marlatt (R) - felony sexual battery charges
• State Rep. Scott Inman (D) - family issues