Eastern Oklahoma congressional races will end Tuesday with nominations

Republicans believe the retirement of Rep. Dan Boren, of Muskogee, the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation, has created a pickup opportunity in a district that is overwhelmingly Democratic in voter registration but composed primarily of rural conservatives.

Democrats are ready to defend the district, which includes some of the poorest counties in the state, with attacks on Republican budget proposals that would affect health care programs for the elderly and poor.

On the Democratic side, Muskogee seed company owner Wayne Herriman, a political newcomer who has put $275,000 of his own money into the race, is facing former state and federal prosecutor Rob Wallace, of Fort Gibson, who has been endorsed by several prominent Democrats in the state, including three former governors.

Republican voters will choose between plumbing company owner Markwayne Mullin, of Westville, and state Rep. George Faught, of Muskogee.

The two-month runoff campaigns were twice as long as in the past because of new federal requirements for absentee ballots being sent to voters abroad, but they didn't produce twice as many debates.

In fact, only one head-to-head debate was held in the 2nd District congressional contests, that on the Republican side.

Democratic contest

Herriman refused to debate Wallace and spent much of his time attacking Wallace's prior business activities and the plea bargains made by Wallace's office while he was a district attorney.

In an interview, Herriman said: “Rob Wallace was not willing to answer a lot of questions about his background. How do you debate someone in regard to the issues when he won't even talk about his character?”

Wallace responded, “His questions about my background are ridiculous.”

Wallace said he passed rigorous background checks when he was at the U.S. Justice Department and was chosen for a task force on organized crime and a teaching assignment in Russia.

Herriman, Wallace said, “wants to attack, attack, attack instead of talking about the issues in this race. He's refused to engage on the issues.”

Herriman said he has heard from voters about the negativity. “I talk about it as well,” he said. “It's not been fun.”

But he said part of the campaign process for candidates is laying bare their pasts so voters can judge their character.

“My life is exposed,” he said.

To Wallace, the issues are protecting the state's water from out-of-state interests, creating jobs and preserving Social Security and Medicare. Though water rights would seem to be primarily a state concern, Wallace said the next congressman from eastern Oklahoma must be a leader on the issue who can monitor federal agencies with oversight over Indian tribes and certain lakes.