Buzz begins for next governor's race
Election 2010: As Henry nears the end of his second term, the open seat could cause a shake-up in the state's political landscape
Buzz begins for next Oklahoma governor's race

By Michael McNutt

Published: August 17, 2008

The open governor's spot in 2010 could produce a shake-up in the state's lineup of key politicians, with three statewide officials and more than half of Oklahoma's five U.S. House members looking at making a run for the post.

Only Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who's up for re-election in 2010, would say he is "leaning” toward running for governor. The others said they will make a decision next year, with three U.S. House members from Oklahoma saying they are concentrating on this year's re-election efforts and the needs of their constituents.

Gov. Brad Henry, still popular with voters as some polls show him garnering 70 percent or more approval ratings, cannot seek another four-year term. Governors in Oklahoma can serve only two terms.

Henry, a Democrat, could be an important force for the Democratic nominee in 2010. Henry likely would not back any Democratic contenders in the primary, which could include state Treasurer Scott Meacham, whom Henry has called his best friend.

Meacham was an Elk City banker when Henry recruited him after his 2002 election to serve as state finance director to help solve the state's nearly $700 million shortfall. Meacham was appointed treasurer in 2005 and was elected to the position in 2006.

Edmondson, elected attorney general in 1994, has more than $350,000 in his 2010 re-election committee fund; that money could be transferred to a campaign for governor.

Other Democrats mentioned in political circles as possible contenders include Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, midway through her first term, who has traveled extensively across the state and is a former state House member from Duncan; and U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee.

U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, is the leading GOP contender, state Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said. Fallin has not said she is running. U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, also has been mentioned as looking at the governor's race.

"She's the one that people are looking at,” Jones said of Fallin, who ran for the 5th Congressional District seat in 2006.

"There will be other people who are going to look at it, but she would have to be the frontrunner,” Jones said. "She's won three times statewide. She has kind of set herself apart in the short time she's been in the Congress, too.”

If all or most of those officials decide to run, it would result in open races for attorney general, lieutenant governor, treasurer and any U.S. House seat. All those offices are up for election in 2010.

Keith Gaddie, a University of Oklahoma political science professor, said that within a year the slate should be pretty well set because of increasing costs of campaigns and competitiveness for contributions.

Fallin, Boren and Cole have more pressure to make their plans known.

Unlike the state officials, money in their federal re-election campaigns cannot be transferred to a statewide race.

State Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes said Edmondson appears to be looking more like a candidate running for governor.

"If I had to guess right now, I'd say that Drew Edmondson will run,” Holmes said.

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