 | When a prairie twister rips through the Sooner state, there is a process of assessing the damage in the hours after the storm. The same is true when a statewide election is held. Four noted incumbents were rejected in their primary elections. All of them were Republicans, but not all of them were consistent in promoting conservatism. Senator Corey Brooks represents a very conservative district to the SW of OKC metro. He only scored a 35 this year in the Sooner Tea Party Rino index. The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper scored him at 60. But Grady County Tea Party is a very effective group. When they lose confidence in a politician, no amount of campaign spending can overcome their collective voice. the public schools lobby had also endorsed Brooks, which was a veritable kiss of death. Two term Tulsa Mayor, Dewey Bartlett Jr. was turned away from a 3rd term by a liberal Republican councilman. Tulsa switched to nonpartisan city elections 7 years ago. Mayor Bartlett laments ever supporting the idea. Bartlett was no champion of conservatism in his administration. It left him with few political allies. Duncan Legislator, Dennis Johnson was ousted by an organized campaign group. Johnson only scored a 43 in this year's Sooner Tea Party index. Oklahoma Constitution Newspaper scored him a 70. He faced a powerful public school lobby who endorsed his republican opponent. Johnson had previously scored better in conservative indices. |
Tulsa legislator, Ken Walker represents a midtown district and he was targeted by the public schools lobby. He narrowly lost in the late hours of tabulating. Walker had scored decently in conservatism indices, but he frustrated many activists with some of the legislation he authored. Opinion writers (including myself at times) ripped Ken for some of his recent bills. He would have required all drivers to find and activate their car's flashers when traveling in all school zones (I called him 'Flasher Ken'). He wanted to mandate that all flags purchased by government funding be procured from only USA manufacturing. He was proud of his 'Merry Christmas' bill. Ken is as nice a guy as you'll find at the capitol.
The public schools lobby was quite effective. In the Democrat primaries they were almost 100% successful. In the Republican primary they had some pockets of success. Especially in open seats and in less conservative districts.
The public schools lobby was quite effective. In the Democrat primaries they were almost 100% successful. In the Republican primary they had some pockets of success. Especially in open seats and in less conservative districts.
