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Wednesday, June 27, 2018 2:43:37 PM
GOP incumbents ousted in Oklahoma amid teacher challenges
By SEAN MURPHY Associated Press
June 27, 2018 08:48 AM
Updated 2 hours 42 minutes ago
OKLAHOMA CITY -- At least six Republican incumbents were bounced from office during Oklahoma's primary election, including several who were targeted by pro-education groups.
Tuesday's primary election was the first test for many of the nearly 100 teachers running for office in Oklahoma after a year that saw tens of thousands of educators walk off their job for two weeks to protest dwindling funding for schools.
Oklahoma voters also approved the nation's first medical marijuana question on a ballot this year and winnowed the 15-candidate field seeking to replace Gov. Mary Fallin as the state's next chief executive.
Several GOP incumbents who voted against tax hikes to fund teacher pay raises were either ousted from office or pulled into a runoff against a fellow GOP opponent.
"Our voices were heard tonight," said Sherrie Conley, an assistant principal at an Oklahoma City elementary school who ended up in a Republican runoff with incumbent Rep. Bobby Cleveland.
Of the 10 "no" voters in the House who were running for re-election, two were defeated outright on Tuesday night — Reps. Chuck Strohm of Jenks and Scott McEachin of Tulsa. Seven others ended up in an Aug. 28 primary runoff against fellow Republicans.
Four other Republican incumbents also were defeated on Tuesday, including one who lost to a seventh-grade English teacher from Elgin.
GOVERNOR
Fifteen candidates — two Democrats, 10 Republicans and three Libertarians — ran to replace Fallin, who has served eight years as the state's chief executive. Most of the attention, and money, has been focused on the Republican primary, which included former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, and Tulsa mortgage company founder Kevin Stitt.
Cornett and Stitt both advanced to the Republican runoff, knocking off Lamb, the early favorite and establishment pick who started the campaign with $1 million in carryover funds from his lieutenant governor's campaign.
Stitt took advantage of his status as a political outsider and outraised all of his opponents with $4.2 million, including $2.1 million of his own money, to narrowly edge out Lamb for the second spot in the runoff.
On the Democratic side, former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson clinched the nomination over ex-state Sen. Connie Johnson. The $1.5 million Edmondson raised was more than 20 times as much as Johnson.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Oklahoma voters on Tuesday easily approved the medicinal use of marijuana, despite opposition from law enforcement and business, faith and political leaders.
State Question 788 was the result of an activist-led signature drive. It allows physicians to approve medical marijuana licenses for people to legally grow, keep and use cannabis. The proposal doesn't list any qualifying medical conditions, allowing doctors to prescribe it for a wide range of ailments.
Opponents had argued the proposal was too loosely written, and Gov. Mary Fallin said it would essentially allow recreational use. After the vote, Fallin said she would work with state agencies and lawmakers to establish a regulatory framework "to make sure marijuana use is truly for valid medical illnesses."
It was the first marijuana question on a state ballot in 2018, and Oklahoma voters showed up in droves. The state's election board says more votes were cast on the issue than in the 2014 general election.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
The top two candidates in the most heated statewide primary race advanced in the Republican primary for attorney general. Sitting Attorney General Mike Hunter led the three-candidate race and faces Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond in a runoff for the GOP nomination. Hunter was appointed to the post by Fallin after former Attorney General Scott Pruitt was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A series of attack ads launched by Hunter and Drummond provided plenty of fireworks.
Angela Bonilla finished third in the Republican race.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article213900789.html
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The BLUE WAVE is coming...
By SEAN MURPHY Associated Press
June 27, 2018 08:48 AM
Updated 2 hours 42 minutes ago
OKLAHOMA CITY -- At least six Republican incumbents were bounced from office during Oklahoma's primary election, including several who were targeted by pro-education groups.
Tuesday's primary election was the first test for many of the nearly 100 teachers running for office in Oklahoma after a year that saw tens of thousands of educators walk off their job for two weeks to protest dwindling funding for schools.
Oklahoma voters also approved the nation's first medical marijuana question on a ballot this year and winnowed the 15-candidate field seeking to replace Gov. Mary Fallin as the state's next chief executive.
Several GOP incumbents who voted against tax hikes to fund teacher pay raises were either ousted from office or pulled into a runoff against a fellow GOP opponent.
"Our voices were heard tonight," said Sherrie Conley, an assistant principal at an Oklahoma City elementary school who ended up in a Republican runoff with incumbent Rep. Bobby Cleveland.
Of the 10 "no" voters in the House who were running for re-election, two were defeated outright on Tuesday night — Reps. Chuck Strohm of Jenks and Scott McEachin of Tulsa. Seven others ended up in an Aug. 28 primary runoff against fellow Republicans.
Four other Republican incumbents also were defeated on Tuesday, including one who lost to a seventh-grade English teacher from Elgin.
GOVERNOR
Fifteen candidates — two Democrats, 10 Republicans and three Libertarians — ran to replace Fallin, who has served eight years as the state's chief executive. Most of the attention, and money, has been focused on the Republican primary, which included former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, and Tulsa mortgage company founder Kevin Stitt.
Cornett and Stitt both advanced to the Republican runoff, knocking off Lamb, the early favorite and establishment pick who started the campaign with $1 million in carryover funds from his lieutenant governor's campaign.
Stitt took advantage of his status as a political outsider and outraised all of his opponents with $4.2 million, including $2.1 million of his own money, to narrowly edge out Lamb for the second spot in the runoff.
On the Democratic side, former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson clinched the nomination over ex-state Sen. Connie Johnson. The $1.5 million Edmondson raised was more than 20 times as much as Johnson.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Oklahoma voters on Tuesday easily approved the medicinal use of marijuana, despite opposition from law enforcement and business, faith and political leaders.
State Question 788 was the result of an activist-led signature drive. It allows physicians to approve medical marijuana licenses for people to legally grow, keep and use cannabis. The proposal doesn't list any qualifying medical conditions, allowing doctors to prescribe it for a wide range of ailments.
Opponents had argued the proposal was too loosely written, and Gov. Mary Fallin said it would essentially allow recreational use. After the vote, Fallin said she would work with state agencies and lawmakers to establish a regulatory framework "to make sure marijuana use is truly for valid medical illnesses."
It was the first marijuana question on a state ballot in 2018, and Oklahoma voters showed up in droves. The state's election board says more votes were cast on the issue than in the 2014 general election.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
The top two candidates in the most heated statewide primary race advanced in the Republican primary for attorney general. Sitting Attorney General Mike Hunter led the three-candidate race and faces Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond in a runoff for the GOP nomination. Hunter was appointed to the post by Fallin after former Attorney General Scott Pruitt was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A series of attack ads launched by Hunter and Drummond provided plenty of fireworks.
Angela Bonilla finished third in the Republican race.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article213900789.html
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