Election Night: Coburn holds on, Holt and Murdock win

Muskogee Mayor Bob Coburn (hint for the media: he's Tom's cousin, not brother) eked out a narrow victory tonight over his ex-son-in-law Wayne Divelbiss. After polls closed, Divelbiss took an early lead, at one point nearly reaching 56%, but as the last precincts started to come in the gap narrowed.

Two precincts (including Coburn's home precinct) experienced voting machine problems; those ballots had to re-counted at the election board office. With 14 of 15 precincts reported, Divelbiss still led by over 50 votes. Coburn's home precinct was the last to be counted, and came in big for him, pushing him to a 71-vote victory.

Divelbiss ran against Coburn in the 2016 mayoral election, where Coburn defeated him 71% to 20%. This time, Coburn beat him by just 71 votes, or 2.38%.

In other Muskogee city elections, Ward I City Councilman Ivory Vann won reelection, and Jaime Stout won the open Ward II seat.

All municipal offices in Muskogee are technically nonpartisan, but Coburn, Divelbiss and Stout are registered Republicans; Vann is a prominent Democrat.

In Oklahoma City, State Sen. David Holt (R-OKC) cruised to 78% in his mayoral bid.

In the State Senate District 27 special election, State Rep. Casey Murdock (R-Felt) easily defeated his Democratic challenger.

Murdock wins SD27 GOP Primary

State Rep. Casey Murdock (R-Felt) emerged victorious in the field of six Republican candidates seeking the nomination in the Senate District 27 special election primary held today.

Preliminary results from the Oklahoma Election Board:

1. Casey Murdock - 33.17%
2. Travis Templin - 28.23%
3. Carolyn McLarty - 23.12%
4. Jeff Hall - 12.81%
5. Tommy Nicholson - 1.78%
6. Michael Medill - 0.9%

Murdock will face Democrat Amber Jensen in the February 13, 2018 general election. If Murdock defeats Jensen, no special election will be held for the HD61 seat he currently holds, and the seat will remain vacant until the winner of the November 2018 election is sworn in.

Coburn and Keating endorse McLarty in SD27 Special Election

In the Senate District 27 special election triggered by State Sen. Bryce Marlatt's resignation after being charged with felony sexual battery, the race appears to be between State Rep. Casey Murdock (Conservative Performance Index score of -15.6 in 2016, by far the worst among all GOP legislators) and OKGOP National Committeewoman Carolyn McLarty.

This week, McLarty scored some huge news in gaining the endorsements of former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn and former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating.

The primary for this race is Tuesday, December 12th.

Frank Keating, Dr. Tom Coburn Endorse Dr. Carolyn McLarty for State Senate

(Woodward, OK, November 27th, 2017): Dr. Carolyn McLarty this morning announced that her State Senate campaign in the District 27 special election has been endorsed by former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating and former U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn.

"Carolyn McLarty has long embraced the family focused, free market and public integrity agenda of true Republican conservatives," said former Governor Keating. "She will be an excellent and admired legislator. Her win is a win for Oklahoma."

"For as long as I’ve known her, Carolyn McLarty has worked each day to remind us what it means to be a Republican. Carolyn's conservative principles are rock solid," said Dr. Coburn. "Less government in our daily lives. Local control of our local schools. Lower taxes on working families and small-business employers. Keep government decision-making close to home, rather than in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C."

"I’m proud to support Carolyn McLarty for state Senate, and I ask Republicans in Northwest Oklahoma to join me," Coburn continued. "Common-sense conservatives like Carolyn are needed at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City."

Governor Keating and Dr. Coburn join a growing list of Oklahomans who have endorsed Carolyn McLarty in her bid for State Senate.

"I am pleased to have the support of these leaders in the conservative movement," said McLarty.  "As a State Senator, I will work for limited government, a balanced budget, and protection of individual liberty, natural rights, and personal moral responsibility."

Dr. Carolyn McLarty owned the Animal Care Clinic in Woodward from 1988-2007.  She has represented Oklahoma on the Republican National Committee since 2008, and is a former Chairman of the Woodward County Republican Party and the Woodward County Republican Women.  The Eagle Forum honored Carolyn as the Oklahoma Eagle of the Year in 2012.

Cimarron County GOP holding candidate forum for SD27 special election

The Cimarron County Republican Party is hosting a candidate forum and straw poll for the Senate District 27 special election on Friday, November 17th.

The SD27 special election was precipitated by the resignation of State Sen. Bryce Marlatt after he was charged with felony sexual battery.

Republican candidates for the seat are as follows (in alphabetical order, with links to their website if available):

• Army veteran Jeff Hall
• OKGOP National Committeewoman Carolyn McLarty
• Michael Medill
• State Rep. Casey Murdock
• Army and Marines veteran Tommy Nicholson 
• Educator Travis Templin

The victor of the winner-take-all GOP primary will face Democrat Amber Jensen in the February 13th general election.

Travis Templin announces for SD27 special election

Former Teacher of the Year & Small Businessman Announces for State Senate District 27

Seiling, Oklahoma – Travis Templin has announced his candidacy for State Senate District 27. A special election will be held on December 12th, 2017 to fill the open seat. Templin, a teacher and coach at Seiling Public Schools, believes it is time for a State Senator to step up and start doing what’s right. Northwestern Oklahoma has always been Templin’s home. He was born in Alva, attended Woodward and Gage Public Schools, graduated from Boise City High School, and then Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1998 where he received his Bachelor of Science in Education.

“Growing up in Northwestern Oklahoma taught me the values of hard work, family, & a strong
community. We have got to have a strong voice to represent our district – not the out of state special
interest groups trying to control our government. We also don’t need to elect another career politician,” said Travis Templin. Templin was awarded “Teacher of the Year” in 2016 and his wife, Amanda, also a school teacher, received the award in 2017.

“I’ve known Travis and his family for a long time. You never really know what will go across a legislator’s desk, but you can get to know their heart and what motivates them – Travis Templin is a man of integrity, honor, and character and I know we can count on him to do the right thing,” said Kirk Pittman, a member of Travis Templin’s Advisory Council.

Travis and Amanda, have two children – Kylie and Kaden and one grandson, Karter. While Templin has spent most of his life in public education, he also has experience in agriculture and oil & gas, with oversight of large budgets. “There is no reason for our state to be creating new taxes. We are taxed too much already. The private sector creates jobs, opportunities, and the best path for success – not the government,” says Templin, “It is time we start prioritizing our resources and best appropriating the funds our state is given by its taxpayers.”

Templin is a Conservative Republican who believes in cutting wasteful spending and stopping
corruption. He believes in balancing a better budget for years ahead so businesses can thrive and the
economy can grow. “Agencies need audited and held accountable for the funds they receive. Wasteful
spending should stop. We must reform education and invest in infrastructure. We must also take care of rural healthcare and emergency management services,” stated Travis Templin.

For more information, please visit TravisTemplin.com.

So far, the other announced candidates are State Rep. Casey Murdock and OKGOP National Committeewoman Carolyn McLarty.

OKGOP's Carolyn McLarty announces for SD27 special election

Hat-tip to Kenny Bob Tapp for this great news:

Carolyn McLarty Announces Run For State Senate District 27

“It’s time to stop talking and start DOING! It is time to put the principles of good government to work. I am prepared to do this; I have the knowledge, experience and the proven conservative track record needed to be an effective State Senator. I am reliable and I am passionate about what is best for the people of District 27. With the current budget crisis in our state and multiple challenges in the economy, education, and health care, we need assertive and faithful leadership to bring opportunities for stability and prosperity back to Oklahoma,” McLarty said.

Dr. Carolyn McLarty is a retired veterinarian, who operated the Animal Care Clinic in Woodward for 20 years. Since 2008 she has served as the Republican National Committeewoman for Oklahoma. In this position, she has represented our state’s conservative values consistently. She has demonstrated her ability to effectively lead while serving on the RNC Executive Committee and as Chairman of the Resolutions Committee.

She believes that upholding conservative principles is vital for our leaders. “Leading based upon our moral compass and guiding faith can thwart pressure from outside influences. When we make decisions based upon our faith and values, we can build a safer more prosperous state for our children; a state where they can thrive and raise their own families with a higher quality of life,” McLarty said.

A strong proponent for education, and the quality of education our children receive, McLarty fought to encourage development of excellent new standards for Oklahoma education to replace Common Core. “It is vital that we provide our children the best education that we can. Education for good citizenship is imperative for a government “by the people.” Further, quality education ensures that our children can aspire to higher goals, and enrich the State with their talents,” McLarty said.

“Through my experience in the Republican National Committee, I have worked hard to create win-win outcomes between the establishment and the grassroots. I can work in the State Senate to pass legislation that ensures that our state government serves the people of the entire Senate District 27 from Northwestern Oklahoma to the end of the Panhandle. I will fight hard to encourage legislation that enables our conservative principles and values to bring security, liberty, and prosperity to the District. As a sovereign state, we must push back the encroachment of the Federal Government into state government functions,” McLarty emphasized.

Carolyn McLarty has been married to Tom for 42 years. Together they have three children and three grandchildren. She served on the Board of Directors at the Pregnancy Center in Woodward for nine years. She also served as President of the Northwest Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, was Chairman of the Board of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority Board, Board Member of Eagle Forum, a national conservative pro-life organization and was a delegate/alternate to the Republican National Conventions for the past five Presidential elections.

Another one bites the dust: State Sen. Marlatt resigns

The latest in a string of Republicans to resign in disgrace, State Sen. Bryce Marlatt stepped down today after being booked into the Oklahoma County Jail this morning for one felony count of sexual battery. He was released on bond.

The charge stems from an incident in late June, when Marlatt attempted to assault an Uber driver in Oklahoma City who was driving him to a bar. Marlatt had previously had a DUI-related charge a year or two ago, but evidently alcohol got him into more trouble again.

Marlatt had represented Senate District 27 (Panhandle and northwest corner of the state) since 2008, and was the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee before being removed after news of the incident broke in July.

Marlatt joins an illustrious "club" of legislators (all Republican) who have resigned from office in recent years due to sexual or legal misdoings:

• State Sen. Rick Brinkley resigned in August 2015 after embezzling nearly $2M to support his gambling addiction
• State Rep. Dan Kirby resigned in February 2017 after allegations he sexual harassed his assistant
• State Sen. Ralph Shortey resigned after being charged with child prostitution in March 2017
• State Sen. Kyle Loveless resigned in April over campaign ethics violations and embezzlement 

This creates the eighth empty seat in the state legislature since the 2016 election. Aside from Kirby, Shortey and Loveless mentioned above, the other vacancies are State Rep. Tom Newell (for a private sector job), State Rep. Scott Martin (for private sector job), State Rep. David Brumbaugh's sudden death, and State Sen. Dan Newberry (resignation to take a private sector job).