Post-Primary Endorsements

With the primaries over, and a handful of runoffs begun, unsuccessful candidates are beginning to issue their endorsements. In some cases, they're also being conspicuously silent.

Governor's Race

Democrat Drew Edmondson endorsed Jari Askins on election night. Governor Brad Henry also endorsed Askins on Thursday.

On the Republican side, Roger Jackson endorsed Mary Fallin on Wednesday, and Robert Hubbard threw his support behind Fallin on Thursday. However, Randy Brogdon has been tight-lipped on his plans. He told Oklahoma Watchdog's Andrew Griffin that he would take a few days off and think about it.

I'm very disappointed that Brogdon has waited this long to say anything, and that he continues to wait. Randy Brogdon knows what it has been like in the state legislature with a Democrat governor, and that we really can't afford another four years like the last eight. Too much is at stake here for Republicans and conservatives to not unify behind Mary Fallin, who, while not as conservative as Randy Brogdon, is way more conservative than liberal Jari Askins. Larry Jackson has a good post on the subject here.

5th Congressional District Race

Rick Flanigan put his support behind James Lankford on Wednesday, and Mike Thompson, who placed third in the seven-way primary, also endorsed Lankford this morning.

Shane Jett, the fourth place finisher, has not indicated who he will support, but his one-year old daughter was taken to the hospital on Wednesday after having a severe seizure. He has a valid reason for his lack of endorsement.

GOP Primary Results Map - Governor

Click here for the entire Muskogee Politico series of election results maps.

NewsOK Data Watch: Maximum Donors

NewsOK Data Watch writers Paul Monies and John Estus have done some fabulous work compiling data on maximum donors (individuals or PACs who gave the maximum allowable contribution of $5000 to a candidate) for this primary election.

The most interesting information came in the Governor's race, where several million dollars have been raised by the candidates

On the Democrat side of the gubernatorial race, Jari Askins had 90 maximum donations (79 from individuals, 6 from PACs, and 5 from tribes) while Drew Edmondson had 129 maximum donors (123 from individuals, 3 from PACs and 3 from tribes). That means Askins raised $450,000 just from these elite donors, and Edmondson raised $645,000.

That pales in comparison to the Republican side of the equation

Roger Jackson received two maximum in-kind contributions from individuals, and Randy Brogdon got 11 max donations ($55,000).  

Mary Fallin blew away the field, with 206 maximum donations from individuals, and 17 from PACs. That makes for a total of $1,115,000 just from these donors! To put that in perspective, Fallin has raised a grand total of $2,446,503.47 through the entire campaign, meaning just over 47% of her campaign contributions came from maximum donors.

Read Monies' and Estus' work here.

*All of the figures in this post did not include contributions after July 12th, which are considered "last minute".

Rasmussen Governor/Senate Polls

Rasmussen conducted two Oklahoma polls recently; one for the Governor's race, and one for the Senate race.

Senate race poll:

Rasmussen Reports 2010 Oklahoma Senate Poll (link)

Tom Coburn (R) - 62%
Mark Myles (D) - 27%
Some Other Candidate - 4%
Undecided - 6%

Tom Coburn (R) - 65%
Jim Rogers (D) - 26%
Some Other Candidate - 3%
Undecided - 7%

Poll of  500 likely voters, June 30th, 2010, with a MoE of +/- 4.5%  -  leaders in bold

Governor's race poll:

Rasmussen Reports 2010 Oklahoma Gubernatorial Poll (link)

Mary Fallin (R) - 55%
Jari Askins (D) - 32%
Some Other Candidate - 7%
Undecided - 7%

Mary Fallin (R) - 48%
Drew Edmondson (D) - 39%
Some Other Candidate - 3%
Undecided - 10%

Randy Brogdon (R) - 47%
Jari Askins (D) - 38%
Some Other Candidate - 6%
Undecided - 9%

Randy Brogdon (R) - 35%
Drew Edmondson (D) - 46%
Some Other Candidate - 5%
Undecided - 14%

Robert Hubbard (R) - 43%
Jari Askins (D) - 38%
Some Other Candidate - 8%
Undecided - 11%

Robert Hubbard (R) - 31%
Drew Edmondson (D) - 44%
Some Other Candidate - 8%
Undecided - 18%

Roger Jackson (R) - 42%
Jari Askins (D) - 40%
Some Other Candidate - 8%
Undecided - 11%

Roger Jackson (R) - 29%
Drew Edmondson (D) - 45%
Some Other Candidate - 8%
Undecided - 18%

Poll of  500 likely voters, June 30th, 2010, with a MoE of +/- 4.5%  -  leaders in bold

In addition to the numbers from the races, Rasmussen released some figures from other questions.

68% of those polled favor repeal of the new national health care plan (higher than the national figure), while 28% oppose repeal. 35% consider themselves a member of the Tea Party movement (also higher than the national figure), while 45% do not, and 20% aren't sure. 64% support passing similar legislation to Arizona's illegal immigration law here in Oklahoma, and 76% support requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone pulled over for a traffic or other violation if they suspect the individual is an illegal immigrant.

Obviously, Oklahoma is a conservative state, even though a plurality of voters are registered Democrat.

Brogdon Blasts Fallin's PAC/Lobbyist Campaign Invite

After Congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Mary Fallin invited Political Action Committee directors and lobbyists to a campaign briefing, her chief Republican opponent, Randy Brogdon, blasted the move. The Brogdon campaign issued the following press release this evening:

Fallin: Calling All Lobbyists
Candidate for Gov. says lobbyists to play "vital role" in Oklahoma's future

(Oklahoma City)-Promising that they "will play a vital role in moving Oklahoma forward next year," Mary Fallin has invited lobbyists, Political Action Committees, special interest groups, and their checkbooks, to an audience before her.

Fallin's lobbyist summit will take place 10:00 AM Wednesday, July 7th at the offices of the Oklahoma Dental Association. The invitation, signed by Fallin's Campaign Manager called lobbyists and PAC's "stakeholders in the process."

Having already collected hundreds of thousands from special interests, the Fallin for Governor Campaign seems to be dropping any pretense. Openly declaring they are the campaign catering to special interests.

No indication was given as to why lobbyists and special interest groups deserve to play so vital a role in Oklahoma's future. Mary Fallin also failed to clarify whether lobbyist's status as "stakeholder" is intrinsic, a right given by God, or if it is conditional, requiring the purchase of a "stake."

The term stakeholder, as traditionally used in the English language in law and notably gambling describes: a third party who temporarily holds money or property while its owner is still being determined.

Does Representative Fallin intend for these invited special interests to hold money or property while state government and its citizens struggle over the right of possession?

Of course, in government the term "stakeholder" refers to: only those who benefit from, or seek influence over, government activities. That certainly describes a lobbyist.

Tomorrow, lobbyists from around the country will descend on Oklahoma City, sit in the presence on the presumptive Governor and find out for themselves – the price of a "stake."

If Mary Fallin is Governor it is pretty clear who will be running the state!

The GOP primary will take place on July 27th, and four candidates will be on the ballot: Randy Brogdon, Mary Fallin, Robert Hubbard, and Roger Jackson.

Pinnell New OKGOP Chair, Brogdon Wins Straw Poll

At the OKGOP State Committee meeting today, Matt Pinnell was elected the new State Chairman without opposition. Our congratulations to Matt on winning!


After the State Committee meeting, a gubernatorial candidate forum and straw poll was held. Candidates Mary Fallin, Randy Brogdon, Robert Hubbard, and Roger Jackson were all present.


Questions ranged from education reform, to taxes, to past contributions to the Republican cause, to dealing with the state budget.


I have heard all of the candidates before, whether in person, or on the radio. Honestly, I thought that Robert Hubbard did the best job - he was the main candidate to use hard facts and figures, as opposed to generic platitudes. However, the crowd was comprised of dedicated Fallin or Brogdon enthusiasts, so neither Hubbard nor Jackson ever had a chance at getting many votes.

222 ballots were cast, and State Sen. Randy Brogdon won with 119 votes, or 54%. Congresswoman Mary Fallin received 93 votes (42%), Robert Hubbard got 7 votes (3%), and Roger Jackson took 3 votes (1%).

Many, if not most, of the attendees were members of the OKGOP State Committee, meaning that Brogdon took a majority of the grassroots-elected party activists. While straw polls are generally useless except for morale boosters, this particular poll holds a bit more significance.

* Edit: the title should have originally read "Pinnell New OKGOP Chair, Brodgon Wins Straw Poll"... corrected now!

Pawlenty To Campaign for Fallin

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is coming to Oklahoma City tomorrow to campaign for Congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Mary Fallin.

Fallin was endorsed by Sarah Palin on Thursday. Fallin is running in the GOP primary, against State Sen. Randy Brogdon, and businessmen Robert Hubbard and Roger Jackson.