Wisconsin-in-Oklahoma: AWOL OK House members

For the first time since the 1990's* last March, the Oklahoma House of Representatives issued the Call of the House, to force absent members into the chamber for a vote.

During the vote on the emergency clause for Speaker Kris Steele's HB2139, which expanded the State Superintendent's authority and limited that of the State Board of Education (in response to the controversy over State Superintendent Janet Barresi's first school board meeting), several House members appeared to be purposefully absent. That's when State Rep. Jason Nelson (R-OKC) invoked House Rule 10.5, or the 'Call of the House'.

The procedural motion gives the House sergeant-at-arms the authority to "compel the attendance of the absent members."

After a roll call, the doors to the House chamber were locked, and the House sergeants began the search for missing Reps. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw), Mike Christian (R-OKC), Charles Key (R-OKC), Mike Reynolds (R-OKC), Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) and Randy Terrill (R-Moore).

Peter J. Rudy of Oklahoma Watchdog has more on the story here, including the missing members on the second roll call.

UPDATE: Rudy got a response from Rep. Randy Terrill, one of the AWOL members. Read it here.
* - thanks to the commenter who pointed out that the Call of the House was issued on March 11th, 2010.

Battle for the Governor's Mansions: Poll Updates

Of all of the governors in the nation, 26 are Democrats, 23 are Republicans, and one is Independent (Charlie Crist of Florida, formerly Republican). 37 governorships are up this year (19 seats currently held by Democrats, and 18 by Republicans), and things are looking good for the GOP.

California - tossup (current R)

Outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Republican (well...) , but California is a liberal state. Former Democrat Governor (1975-1983) and current Attorney General Jerry Brown is running against Meg Whitman, the GOP nominee. The RCP poll average has Brown leading by 1.4%. Brown has been leading for most of the past year, but Whitman led in the polls during March and August. Currently, Brown has a very slim lead.

Illinois - lean GOP (current D)

In Illinois, you have a match-up between State Sen. Bill Brady (R) and Governor Pat Quinn, who replaced impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) in January of 2009. The RCP average has Brady leading by 9.2%. Brady has led this race since March by an average of 8-10 points.

Iowa - likely GOP (current D)

Democrat Chet Culver is facing Republican Terry Branstad, who was a former Iowa governor (1983-1999). The RCP average has Branstad leading by 13.4%.

Kansas - safe GOP (current D)

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback is running against State Sen. Tom Holland. Brownback is basically a shoo-in, as polls have found him with leads of 25-40%.

Maine - likely GOP (current D)

Mayor Paul LePage (R) is running against State Sen. Libby Mitchell (D), but a fairly strong Independent is in the race (Eliot Cutler). Due to Maine's tendency to have strong Independent candidates, no candidate has received over 50% of the vote since 1998 (and ironically, that was Independent Governor Angus King - the last time a Democrat or Republican gubernatorial candidate got over 50% was 1982). RCP has LePage leading by 15%. Cutler is taking anywhere from 10-15%, Mitchell 25-30%, and LePage has 40-45%.

Maryland - tossup (current D)

Maryland has a rematch of the 2006 gubernatorial race, when Democrat Martin O'Malley unseated incumbent Republican Bob Erhlich. Now, Erhlich hopes to turn the tables on O'Malley. RCP hgas O'Malley by 3.8%, but this race has been tightening.

Michigan - likely GOP (current D)

Rick Snyder (R) is running against Mayor Virg Bernero (D). Snyder has an impressive lead in this economically devastated state; the RCP average has him leading by 21%.

New Mexico - lean GOP (current D)

District Attorney Susanna Martinez (R) is facing  Lt. Gov. Diane Denish in the New Mexico gubernatorial contest. RCP has it Martinez by 4.7% - she has had a slim lead in the polls since June, but polls done in August (the most recent) had her leading by 6% and 7%.

Ohio - lean GOP (current D)

Gov. Ted Strickland (D) is trailing Republican Congressman John Kasich, who is set to spoil his reelection bid. RCP's average has it Kasich by 10.7%. Kasich has held a pretty steady lead for the past few months, with one poll earlier this month putting him up by 17%.

Oklahoma - likely GOP (current D)

Congresswoman Mary Fallin is running against Lt. Gov. Jari Askins in what is only one of two female-only gubernatorial races this year (New Mexico is the other - both will result in their state's first female governor). Polls have Fallin leading by 15-20%, but due to the voter registration in this state, Askins is by no means out of reach.

Oregon - tossup (current D)

Former NBA player Chris Dudley (R) and former Democrat Governor (1994-2002) John Kitzhaber are running to replace Governor Ted Kulongoski (D). RCP has Dudley leading by 3.4%. Dudley has held a very slim but consistent lead since May. The latest polls had him up by 5% and 6%.

Pennsylvania - likely GOP (current D)

Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato are seeking to replace Governor Ed Rendell (D). The RCP poll average has Corbett up by 9.8%.

RCP has this interesting tidbit about the Pennsylvania Governorship:

There are some trends in politics that border on the surreal. Virginia always elects a governor from the opposite party of the one holding the White House (true since the 1970s). The North Carolina Senate seat currently occupied by Richard Burr switches parties every six years (true since the 1970s). And the Pennsylvania governorship switches parties every eight years. The latter has been true since 1954, when Pennsylvania elected only its fourth Democratic governor since the close of the Civil War.

Polls have had Corbett around 50% for the past several months, and Onorato in the upper 30s.

Tennessee - safe GOP (current D)

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (R) has a big lead over Mike McWherter (D), son of a former governor. The RCP average has it Haslam by 23%. The latest poll had Haslam at 56%, and McWherter at 31%. Easy pickup for the GOP.

Wisconsin - likely GOP (current D)

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (R) and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett are facing off to replace retiring Governor Jim Doyle. RCP has it Walker by 9.3%. Walker has led the polls since January. Walker also has an interesting "brown bag" theme to his campaign (see here and some of his YouTube videos) that you should check out.

Wyoming - safe GOP (current D)

Call it over already in Wyoming - Republican Matt Mead is leading Democrat Leslie Petersen 58%-24% in the latest poll.

Primary Night: Big Victories for Tea Party Candidates

Tonight was primary night in several states, and Tea Party-supported candidates came out big. This continues the surge Tea Party candidates have had, capped off so far this year by Joe Miller's stunning victory in Alaska over U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Christine O'Donnell upset Congressman Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Castle, one of the most liberal Republicans in Congress, had long been considered a shoo-in, not only for the primary but also for the general election. O'Donnell received 53% of the vote this evening, while Castle got 47%.

The nomination of O'Donnell will make this particular race much more competitive. Last week, Rasmussen found Castle leading the Democrat nominee 48%-37%, and O'Donnell trailing 36%-47%.

In New Hampshire U.S. Senate primary, Ovide Lamontagne has been leading Kelly Ayotte all night, currently (10:30pm CST) by 41.2%-37.4%. Ayotte had the support of Sarah Palin, along with other, more establishment Republicans, but Lamontagne has received a lot of Tea Party support.

All Republican candidates for Senate have been in a slight lead in the New Hampshire race, according to polls.

In Wisconsin, Ron Johnson is cruising to an 80%+ victory. Johnson is also a Tea Party candidate, and has a viable chance at defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). Recent polls have had the two essentially tied, or with Johnson in a slight lead.