U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin answered the question most delegates to today’s Oklahoma County Republican Convention wanted to know: She is running for governor in 2010.
When introducing Fallin, Pam Pollard, outgoing chairman of the Oklahoma County Republican Party, asked the two-term congresswoman whether she was forgoing a third term to seek the governor’s office.
“I’ve had to make some pretty tough decisions on behalf of our nation the last couple of years, but when it comes to making decisions about the future of Oklahoma and the leadership of Oklahoma and the governor of Oklahoma, my answer is yes,” Fallin said.
We have a decent Dem bench in Oklahoma, but the problem is that the two biggest guns, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Attorney General Drew Edmondson, are both seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nod. How rough could this one get?
On the House side of the equation, open seat fans might find Mary Fallin’s vacant seat of mild interest. While most of the rest of Oklahoma swung hard to the right last year (especially Dan Boren’s traditionally Democratic 2nd CD), the Oklahoma City-based 5th District actually lurched in the Democratic direction. While John Kerry got pounded by a 64-36 margin here in 2004, McCain’s margin tightened to 59-41 over Obama while holding Bush-like margins nearly everywhere else in the state.
As a wise man once pointed out, they don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee. They don’t take their trips on LSD. They don’t burn their draft cards in the town square, because they like living right and being free.
Apparently the welcome mat’s out for bong-toting peacenik acid freaks in Oklahoma City now, though.
So who might run here for Team Blue? Might Andrew Rice be interested in a race like this?
(H/T: trowaman)
I wonder if Brad Carson can move a few cities over and run for House there . . .
Andrew Rice would be fantastic. Along with Scott Kleeb, he’s one of the best Democratic candidates cursed with a crimson state. I’m all for him getting another chance.
Yes, they were the only district in my homestate to go significantly more Democratic in 2008 than 2004. Nevertheless, turning this seat blue will an extremely tough nut to crack. John Jarman, an extremely conservative Democrat who would eventually switch parties, was the last Democrat the 5th district sent to Washington.
Nevertheless, our bench in the district isn’t terrible. Three other Democratic Senators besides Rice represent parts of the 5th: Debbie Leftwich, Constance Johnson, and minority leader Charlie Laster. Laster, however, represents Shawnee and apart of the district that is considerably more detached from Oklahoma City. I doubt he would run and if he did, it’d be a big mistake.
Of the Senators, Rice is probably the most likely to throw his hat in the ring but I’d still say he’s very unlikely to run. He won’t risk his safe seat in the Senate, which is up in 2010.
My choice? David Prater. He’s the DA for Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City) who scored an upset against the Republican incumbent in2006. Seems very popular.
was the first name that came to mind. I think he lost this district by 10, but he’s from here and could make a good race locally.
Is that some kind of joke? We have two candidates who have won statewide on their own counts and you’re throwing around a netroots candidate who got pulverised in a senate race in a Democratic year?
Or do we only do that for retirement threads /w no runs for higher office?
is to have someone really outrageously wingnut and controversial win the primary for the Repubs, which would give us a shot either in 2010 or 2012.