Muskogee GOP lunch today: Gary Jones on dark money and ethics reform

 

Former two-term Oklahoma State Auditor Gary Jones will be speaking at today's Muskogee Republican lunch on the topic of political dark money and the need for ethics reform in Oklahoma.

The weekly, informal lunch gathering takes place on Fridays at noon at Mahylon's Barbecue, located at 3301 Chandler Rd, Muskogee, OK 74403.

If you're in Muskogee today, you won't want to miss this!

Stitt to speak tonight at Muskogee GOP Lincoln-Reagan Dinner

The Muskogee County Republican Party's annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner is set for this evening at 7pm at the Muskogee Civic Center. Governor Kevin Stitt will be this year's keynote speaker.

This event is the main fundraiser for the county party’s support of local and state Republican candidates. For something like a dozen years, the Muskogee GOP has awarded over 60 college scholarships to public, private, and home school graduates in Muskogee County. The 2022 Scholarship winners will be awarded during the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.

Candidates and campaigns for local, state, and federal races will be present.

Sponsorships will include the VIP Reception and a picture with Governor Kevin Stitt.

Muskogee GOP sets annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner for May 19th, Gov. Stitt as keynote speaker

The Muskogee County Republican Party has scheduled their annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner for Thursday May 19 at 7pm at the Muskogee Civic Center. Governor Kevin Stitt will be this year's keynote speaker.

This event is the main fundraiser for the county party’s support of local and state Republican candidates. For something like a dozen years, the Muskogee GOP has awarded over 60 college scholarships to public, private, and home school graduates in Muskogee County. The 2022 Scholarship winners will be awarded during the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.

Sponsorships will include the VIP Reception and a picture with Governor Kevin Stitt.

Muskogee County GOP sets date for precinct meetings and county convention

The Muskogee County Republican Party recently announced that they have selected Saturday, February 20th, as the date for their 2021 precinct meetings and county convention.

Muskogee GOP announces Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, set for August 13th

The Muskogee County Republican Party is holding their annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on August 13th, featuring a Q&A with local elected officials.

Tickets for the fundraising dinner are $40 if RSVP'd by August 1st, or else $50 at the door. Sponsorship levels are available, as are candidate display tables.

Click here for the RSVP form.

Polly Irving introduces County Clerk candidacy to Muskogee County Republicans

Polly Irving, Republican nominee for Muskogee County Clerk, sent the following introduction of her candidacy to Republican voters via email. Irving will face incumbent Democrat Dianna Cope in the November general election.

From the Muskogee County Republican Party email:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Muskogee County Party is NOT Endorsing Republican Candidates during the Primary Election with Opponents. Due to Social Distancing since Candidates are unable to do any door knocking or meet and greet events we wanted to take the opportunity to get candidate information out to our email list for those who have reached out to us.

To My Republican Friends,

Muskogee GOP postpones Lincoln-Reagan Dinner

The Muskogee County Republican Party has announced that the 2020 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner has been postponed, a reflection of large public events being bumped due to the ongoing/impending COVID-19 situation:

Muskogee GOP sets precinct meetings, county convention for February 15th

Precinct Meetings for the Muskogee County Republican Party are scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 15th at 10am, with the County Convention following immediately after (at approximately 10:30am).

The county convention will elect delegates to the state convention, and begin the party platform formation process. In presidential years, delegates to the National Convention are elected at State and Congressional District conventions, which come after the precinct meetings and county conventions.

If you are a registered Republican and wish to attend the State Convention (or become a delegate to the National Convention), this is where it all begins.

Click here to see additional dates for precinct meetings in other counties.

Muskogee GOP announces 2020 scholarship application deadline

The Muskogee County Republican Party has released their 2020 College Scholarship criteria and application. Over the last decade, over 40 scholarships have been given out by the MCRP to area students.

Those interested in applying can find the pertinant information below. Applications and questions should be directed to MuskogeeRepublicans@gmail.com.

Pinnell to keynote Muskogee GOP Lincoln-Reagan Dinner

From the Muskogee County GOP:

The Muskogee County Republican Party has scheduled their annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner for Thursday May 2 at 6:30pm at the Muskogee Civic Center. We will have Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell as our keynote speaker. We will also hear from our State Senator Dewayne Pemberton, State Representative Avery Frix and State Representative Chris Sneed.

This event is the main fundraiser for all our county party’s support of local and state Republican candidates. It also has allowed us to award over 45 college scholarships to Muskogee County high school graduates.

A lot of good things continue to happen in our state, county and city. For the first time in the history of Muskogee County all of our county is represented by Republican State Senators and State Representatives. Because of folks like you, Republicans are now getting the opportunity to vote in both primary and general elections for Republican candidates who have a great chance to win.

Dinner tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at this link.

Saturday: Muskogee GOP precinct meetings and county convention

The Muskogee County Republican Party will be holding its 2019 precinct meetings and county convention on Saturday, February 16th, at the Muskogee Public Library.

Precinct meetings will begin at 9:30am, with the County Convention following at 10:30am. Officers for the 2019-2021 term will be elected, the county platform will be discussed and voted on, and county convention delegates will be eligible to attend the OKGOP State Convention on April 6th.

Thursday: Muskogee GOP holding Gubernatorial Forum at Lincoln-Reagan Dinner

Muskogee Republicans to host GOP Gubernatorial Forum at 'Lincoln-Reagan Dinner'

The Muskogee County Republican Party will hold its annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on Thursday, July 19th, at the Muskogee Civic Center. A candidate forum featuring Mick Cornett and Kevin Stitt, the two Republican candidates in the runoff primary election for Governor, will be held. This event will give voters the opportunity to hear Cornett and Stitt discuss and debate the top issues facing Oklahoma. The forum will be moderated by Russell Mills of KRMG. Other local and statewide Republican candidates will also be present to visit with voters. In addition, six $500 college scholarships will be awarded to area students during the event.

The dinner will begin at 6:30pm. Advance dinner tickets are $30 if purchased by Sunday, July 15th, while tickets at the door will be $40. The public is invited to attend. For more information or to purchase advance discount tickets, email MuskogeeRepublicans@gmail.com or call 918-869-8930.

Muskogee GOP announces Lincoln Reagan Dinner, Gubernatorial Runoff Forum

The Muskogee County Republican Party's annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner fundraising event this year will feature a gubernatorial runoff forum between GOP candidates Mick Cornett and Kevin Stitt.

Tickets and sponsorship RSVPs can be printed off at this link.

The MCRP's Lincoln-Reagan Dinner is the main source of funds for party operations, candidate donations, and has funded over 40 $500 college scholarships to Muskogee County high-school seniors in the past decade.

For more information, contact MCRP Vice-Chair Jaime Stout at muskogeerepublicans@gmail.com or 918-869-8930.

Choctaw County GOP passes resolution opposing attacks on SQ640

"The Choctaw County GOP stands with the Muskogee GOP by issuing this Statement Opposing Any Weakening by the Oklahoma Legislature of Taxpayer Protections in Article V, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Further, we encourage other Republican Party County Committees to do the same." - Carol Bone, Chairman, February 2nd, 2018

The Choctaw County Republican Party County Committee opposes any attempt by any means to weaken the taxpayer protections found in Article V, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution.

As you know, SQ640 was approved by a vote of the people and requires that any revenue increases, whether through raising taxes, removing exemptions, or increasing fees be approved by the majority of voters in a general election, or by a 75% vote of the state House and Senate.

SQ640 gives the voters the responsibility to decide the issue if the legislature or the governor believe they have compelling reasons to increase taxes, and are unable to achieve the required 75% threshold in both house and senate!

Candidates who want our support must acknowledge the voters’ proper place in deciding revenue increase proposals, and those candidates should pledge to uphold and strengthen rather than weaken the taxpayer protections found in Article V, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution.

We expect and insist that the legislature regard the law rather than seek to weaken the taxpayer protections implemented by SQ640.

The County Chairman will distribute copies of this resolution to the county email list, to the Republican legislators representing portions of Choctaw County, the Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman, the Oklahoma House Speaker, the Oklahoma Senate President, and the Governor of Oklahoma.

Muskogee GOP makes statement against weakening SQ640 protections

Last Friday, the Muskogee County Republican Party's County Committee passed the following resolution in response to calls to reduce taxpayer protections put in the Oklahoma Constitution by SQ640:

We, the members of the Muskogee County Republican Party’s County Committee, strongly oppose any proposed weakening of the Oklahoma Constitution’s taxpayer protections found in Article V, Section 33. Revenue increases through raising taxes, removing exemptions, or increasing fees, ought to be approved by the majority of voters in a general election, or by a 75% vote of each of the two chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature. Our state constitution works best when the legislature partners with the voters in this manner.

Rather than seeking to loosen the taxpayer protections implemented by SQ640, we demand that the legislature trust the voters to make wise revenue decisions in the event that the legislature or governor believe they have compelling reasons to increase taxes and are unable to achieve the required 75% threshold in legislative voting.

We will only support candidates who respect the voters’ proper place in deciding revenue increase proposals and who will seek to uphold or strengthen the taxpayer protections found in Article V, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution, not weaken them by lowering the standards entailed therein. We believe that the constitutional language intended for the voters to generally be a part of that process.

We direct the County chairman to distribute copies of this resolution on the MCRP’s social media, email list, and also to the Republican legislators representing portions of Muskogee County, the Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, the Oklahoma House Speaker, the Oklahoma Senate President, and the Governor of Oklahoma.

Pinnell to speak to Muskogee GOP this evening

From Muskogee County GOP chairman Rob Raasch:

The Muskogee County Republican Club is hosting Matt Pinnell, candidate for Lt. Governor, at Cowboy's BBQ (401 N. York St.) at 6pm. Matt is the former Oklahoma State Republican Party Chair, worked for the RNC as the National State Party Director, and ran the Trump campaign for the RNC for all 50 states. It's open to the public, so please bring friends to meet Matt Pinnell!

Lamb to keynote Muskogee GOP dinner on Friday, April 21st

From the Muskogee County Republican Party:

Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb will be the guest speaker, and several area students will be given $500 college scholarships. In the past decade, the Muskogee County GOP has awarded scholarships to over 30 local students.

For more information, to become a sponsor, or to purchase advance tickets, call 918-869-8930 or email MuskogeeRepublicans@gmail.com.

Muskogee County GOP Offers Scholarships

Muskogee County GOP Offers Scholarships

The Muskogee County Republican Party is accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors residing in Muskogee County. Over the years, the MCRP has bestowed at least 30 area students this monetary award, including six in 2016. Several $500 scholarships will be given to students who meet the following criteria:

•  Have at least a 3 point cumulative grade average their senior year.
•  If 18 years of age, be a registered Republican.
•  If student is not 18, one parent must currently be a registered Republican.
•  Must be a first year freshman Fall 2017 semester.
•  Must be a resident of Muskogee County.

Students meeting the above criteria may mail a completed application, along with a copy of their high school transcript and either a photocopy of their Voter Registration card or their parent’s Voter Registration card proving Republican registration to MCRP 2017 Scholarship Committee P.O. Box 2014, Muskogee, OK 74402, or e-mail it to MuskogeeRepublicans@gmail.com no later than Friday, March 24th. An appointment will then be set for a mandatory interview with the MCRP Scholarship Committee to be held prior to April 13th.

Public announcement of scholarship winners will be made at the 2017 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner hosted by the Muskogee County Republican Party on Friday, April 21st , at the Indian Capitol Technology Center (ICTC). The keynote speaker will be Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb. Scholarship recipients are requested to attend this event and will receive free admission for themselves and their parents.

Applications are available at every Muskogee County high school or via email: MuskogeeRepublicans@gmail.com.

Thursday: Muskogee GOP post-election party with State Auditor Jones

The Muskogee County Republican Party is throwing an Election Celebration party on Thursday, with special guest State Auditor and former OKGOP Chairman Gary Jones. For the first time in state history all 3 legislative seats that encompass the city of Muskogee went Republican, and the entire county is represented in the State Senate by Republicans. Every open legislative seat in Muskogee County flipped from Democrat to Republican in the recent election. Also, Republicans now number over 30% of all registered voters in the county for the first time in history.

The event will be held on Thursday, December 15th, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (300 MLK Street in Muskogee - across from Office Depot) from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Come meet our newly elected and re-elected state legislators, and special guest State Auditor Jones.

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To illustrate the Republican sweep, here are all the partisan races that were held in Muskogee County in 2016 (with the 2014 State Senate races in lighter shades). Republicans won every race except for County Sheriff and House District 15 (figures below are for Muskogee County only, and do not include figures from other counties for the rest of each race).

(click image to view larger)

Muskogee County: trouble for Democrats, optimism for GOP

While Muskogee County tilts heavily Democratic in voter registration, campaign finance records show the local Democratic Party and their legislative candidates in deep trouble, while the Republican Party is on solid ground and set to make big gains.

As of April 2016, Democrats beat Republicans in Muskogee County voter registration 58.17%  to 28.98% -- a difference of 29.19%. While still a big lead, that's a far cry from 2006, when Democrats comprised 67.4% and Republicans were at 22.26% -- a difference of 45.14%. The Democratic decline has been less steep in Muskogee County than, say, Bryan County, but it's very real nonetheless.

In 2006, Republicans won House District 14 for the first time ever, and in 2014 Republicans won their first-ever County Commission seat. This election could set records for the Muskogee County Republicans. Let's look at some campaign finance figures.

House District 14 - Republican-held since 2006 (map)
Rep. George Faught (R) has raised $14,850.00 this cycle, and has $46,009.10 on hand. His Democratic challenger Lee Ann Langston has raised just $1,200.00 and has a pitiful $550.00 on hand.

House District 13 - open Democrat-held seat (map)
Victorious in a three-way primary, Republican Avery Frix has raised a total of $55,858.16 so far, and has $10,656.55 on hand. Democrat candidate Wayne Herriman raised $10,415.00 and has $5,000.21 on hand. Republicans held this seat from 2000 to 2004, but until this election failed to field any more serious candidates.

Senate District 9 - open Democratic-held seat (map)
Winner of a competitive primary contest, Republican Dewayne Pemberton has raised $38,255.00 and has $11,116.92 on hand. Meanwhile, Democrat Jack Reavis has raised $12,632.34 and has a mere $849.87 on hand. To my knowledge, no Republican has ever held this seat.

Looking at County Party structure is even more dramatic. The Muskogee County Republican Party raised $17,746.00 from January 1st through June 30th, and has $23,266.32 cash-on-hand with which to assist their candidates and promote the party. The Muskogee County Democratic Party hasn't filed an ethics report since July 2015, but at that point they had only raised $357.06 on the year and had $488.51 in the bank.

This is looking to be a great year for the Muskogee County Republicans.