Oklahoma democrats working to keep seats

By The Associated Press Comments 1
Published: October 27, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY — Democrats in the Oklahoma Senate are recruiting a slate of energetic and motivated candidates for next year's legislative elections in hopes of hanging onto the seats of four term-limited Democratic senators, the Senate's incoming Democratic leader said Tuesday.

“Seventy-five percent of a winning campaign for the Legislature in Oklahoma is having a good candidate,” said Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City. “It's very hard to get people motivated this early. We're off to a start we are very, very happy with.”

Rice introduced candidates for two of the four seats held by Democrats who are term-limited in 2010 and cannot seek re-election. He promised to introduce more candidates in the coming months, including some who will target Republican-held seats in hopes of returning majority status to Senate Democrats.

In an effort to improve decorum and restore a collegial atmosphere in the Senate chamber, Rice said, Senate Democrats will not campaign for Democratic challengers in the districts of Republican incumbents in 2010.

“That doesn't mean they won't help support challengers,” said Rice, an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe last year.

Republicans took control of the 48-member Senate for the first time in state history last year and outnumber Democrats 26-22. Republicans took control of the 101-member Oklahoma House for the first time in 80 years in 2004 and now outnumber Democrats 62-39.

The Senate's top Republican, Senate Pro Tem Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City, said GOP success in Oklahoma in recent years suggests voters prefer conservative Republican candidates over Democrats.

On Oct. 13, Republican businessman Todd Russ won a special election for House District 55 — a seat in western Oklahoma traditionally held by Democrats — by defeating Democrat Larry Peck with nearly 56 percent of the vote. Russ succeeds former Rep. Ryan McMullen, D-Burns Flat, who resigned in July to accept a federal job.

“Todd Russ just won in an overwhelming Democratic district. So, where is their evidence?” Coffee said.

Also, Coffee said, Oklahoma voters gave Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain 65.6 percent of the vote in last year's presidential election, the highest state percentage for McCain in the country. The GOP candidate swept all 77 Oklahoma counties.

“All of the voter evidence is that Oklahoma voters are conservative,” Coffee said.

Rice and five other Democratic state senators, including current Democratic Leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee, accompanied Democratic candidates Janice Aldridge, a retired school superintendent from Wagoner, and businesswoman Donna Spring of Ardmore at a state Capitol news conference Tuesday.

Aldridge, who is seeking the seat of term-limited Sen. Mary Easley of Tulsa, indicated that education will be a top priority if elected to the Senate.

“I believe that public education is the foundation of democracy,” she said.

Spring, seeking the seat of Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, said her background as a business owner will be an asset during her campaign.

“I think it's important to bring a business background to run government today,” she said.

Democratic Sens. Kenneth Corn of Poteau and Joe Sweeden of Pawhuska also are term-limited. Rice said Rep. Neil Brannon, D-Arkoma, is running for Corn's seat and that Democrats are still recruiting a candidate for Sweeden's seat.