| Update: Rep Ross Ford Affirms Solidarity With Trump In the further splintering of the Oklahoma Republican Party, some newly elected Republican legislators are now openly expressing preference for Democrats. In her 2 years in office, Tulsa's Rep. Carol Bush has several times openly ridiculed many Republicans and cheered on the candidacy of a Democrat running for US Congress. Bush supports Horn in the CD-5 race against Congressman Steve Russell. This is happening while many other legislative leaders like Chris Kannady and Josh West have organized efforts to unseat the most consistently faithful conservatives in the legislature. The Associated press exposed that effort in a nationally-followed story. It appears that the State Committee of the Oklahoma Republicans is doing nothing about this deterioration. Nor has the State Chair, Pam Pollard. Meanwhile, many grassroots Republican activists are ready to exact reforms when they reorganize in next January's Republican precinct caucuses. |  Republican legislator Carol Bush joined Democrat Kendra Horn as Horn announced her challenge to republican Congressman, Steve Russell, in OKC. |
What it shows us is that the current legal process allows any insurgents to lawfully take over the private organizations known as political parties. The very nature of the state conducting a private political club's nominating process is one which could be challenged on constitutional arguments of freedom of association. It may lead to either nominating via party conventions like the states used to do in the 19th century and still does for presidential candidates in many states. Or a state govt. could disregard political parties altogether. Louisiana still conducts primary elections, but they include all candidates in one 'blanket' primary. The top two candidates are then placed on the November general election ballot.
Another argument against Oklahoma's election system is that the state pays for a private organization's process. But only certain favored parties are afforded this govt. expenditure. For many years the Oklahoma Libertarians had to run as independent and had no primary nominating process. They were blocked by the 10% rule. If the top candidate under their party label (president or governor) didn't get 10% of the general election vote, they were officially disbanded by the state and had to spent perhaps $100,000 to operate a petition drive in order to force the state to once again acknowledge them, but only for one election cycle. Recently, Rep. Jason Murphey & Senator Kyle Loveless were successful to reform Oklahoma law so that only 2.5% of the vote was sufficient to retain state sanctioning.
Another argument against Oklahoma's election system is that the state pays for a private organization's process. But only certain favored parties are afforded this govt. expenditure. For many years the Oklahoma Libertarians had to run as independent and had no primary nominating process. They were blocked by the 10% rule. If the top candidate under their party label (president or governor) didn't get 10% of the general election vote, they were officially disbanded by the state and had to spent perhaps $100,000 to operate a petition drive in order to force the state to once again acknowledge them, but only for one election cycle. Recently, Rep. Jason Murphey & Senator Kyle Loveless were successful to reform Oklahoma law so that only 2.5% of the vote was sufficient to retain state sanctioning.
| Update: Newly elected Broken Arrow legislator, Ross Ford, was listed in a SoonerPolitics poll as publicly opposing the Trump agenda But Mr. Ford called us promptly and disavowed any participation in the poll. Ford said; "I have always supported Trump's presidency and supported him in the 2016 election." We checked again and the facebook acct. with his vote does seem to be his. He is checking on the matter and reviewing his account security. He pointed us to the post he made on the night of the Trump election where he said; "I can't believe the wonderful Birthday gift president elect Trump gave me. Thank you mr. president. I guess Trump was right about Hillary. She did not have the strength to break through that glass ceiling. Maybe it was to late for her to address her supporters? Can you say Ding Dong the wicked witch is politically DEAD.". Ford did say he doesn't necessarily agree with me, and he openly declares himself as an advocate for some tax increases and expanding state govt. spending. We commend Mr. Ford for reaching out and for his openness about his representation. |  SoonerPolitics recently launched an online poll. Rep. Ross Ford participated and indicated his view, that the US went the wrong direction 2 years ago. this added to the haunting narrative, but Mr. Ford's follow up contanct alleviated our concerns about his position. We hope he finds out soon where someone voted on his behalf. |
