Oklahoma Governor and Lt Governor.

[Joe Biden 2020]

The race for Governor in Oklahoma is getting very hot.

Brad Henry (Shawnee) is the incumbent Democrat, but if he is going to win it will not be easy.  We have two major Republicans fighting for the nomination.  OK-5 Congressman Ernest Istook (Oklahoma City) and lesser known Bob Sullivan.  Both primaries is Tuesday, July 25.

Brad Henry will probably be the favorite no matter who the nominee is, but he will have to campaign hard the next 3 months (August-October).  One thing that's not setting too well with conservative Republicans is Brad Henry brought the Lottery into the State.  I do not agree with the lottery and I don't think it will succeed.  That is the only thing that I have disagreed with Henry on.

Despite the lottery, I will probably vote for Brad Henry.

Lt. Governor is also getting nasty.  Our Republican Lt Governor Mary Fallin is running for OK-5 so we have State Senator Scott Pruitt and Speaker of the House Todd Hiett vieing for the Republican Nomination.  They have been throwing so much mud at each other you can't recognize them.  I would be fine with either Pruitt or Hiett, so I'll probably vote for Pruitt because of him being a Senator.

[minionofmidas]

Any Dem challengers to Henry? Any Dems running for Lt.Gov.?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Any Dem challengers to Henry? Any Dems running for Lt.Gov.?

Governor:

Democrats:  Brad Henry vs. Andrew Marr, Jr.
Republicans: Ernest Istook, James Williamson, Bob Sullivan, Jim Evanoff

Lt Governor:

Democrats: Jari Askins, Pete Regan, Cal Hobson, Jim Rogers,
Republicans: Nancy Riley, Scott Pruitt, Todd Hiett
Independent: E. Z. Million (What a name!!)

[minionofmidas]

LOL, from his website:

Elmer Zen Million
       (b1940 -- Moscow, Idaho)
       
     Parents:
       Dr. Elmer M. Million (b1912-- Pond Creek, OK; d1990-- Norman, OK)
       Zenna Belle Clark (b1914 -- Weatherford, OK; d1992 -- Norman, OK)

Hence, my name follows directly from my parents
       No, they did not have any great imagination
       No, my father, a law professor, did not realize that a certain cartoon character introduced in 1936 had besmirched our name
       No, my father did Not endow my bank account

 
He also says the main point of his run is to ensure some college Football game is played in Oklahoma where it apparently "belongs" every two years and not in Dallas where the crowds are and where it's been played for a matter of years now.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Ha,

I like tradition, keep the Red River Rivalry in Dallas.

If thats the only reason he's running, he might as well go ahead and fold.

[Sam Spade]

Ha,

I like tradition, keep the Red River Rivalry in Dallas.

If thats the only reason he's running, he might as well go ahead and fold.

Agreed.

For Governor, it's pretty obviously going to be Henry v. Istook. 

For Henry's sky-high approval rating, Istook is a pretty formidable challenger and should at least hold Henry under 60%, maybe less than that.  I have to think that winning is going to be hard though, unless Henry loses some strength, but high approval ratings have been beaten in Governorships in Republican strongholds before and vice versa, so I can't say it's impossible.

I don't know much on the Lt. Governor candidates.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Ha,

I like tradition, keep the Red River Rivalry in Dallas.

If thats the only reason he's running, he might as well go ahead and fold.

Agreed.

For Governor, it's pretty obviously going to be Henry v. Istook. 

For Henry's sky-high approval rating, Istook is a pretty formidable challenger and should at least hold Henry under 60%, maybe less than that.  I have to think that winning is going to be hard though, unless Henry loses some strength, but high approval ratings have been beaten in Governorships in Republican strongholds before and vice versa, so I can't say it's impossible.

I don't know much on the Lt. Governor candidates.

Ha,

I like tradition, keep the Red River Rivalry in Dallas.

If thats the only reason he's running, he might as well go ahead and fold.

Agreed.

For Governor, it's pretty obviously going to be Henry v. Istook. 

For Henry's sky-high approval rating, Istook is a pretty formidable challenger and should at least hold Henry under 60%, maybe less than that.  I have to think that winning is going to be hard though, unless Henry loses some strength, but high approval ratings have been beaten in Governorships in Republican strongholds before and vice versa, so I can't say it's impossible.

I don't know much on the Lt. Governor candidates.

Thats what I think, too.  I say that because at the state level we still tend to go Democrat, though in 2004 we did elect our first Republican Speaker of the House in 80 years.  The Senate is still Democrat-controlled and the House is barely GOP, and of course the Governor's Mansion is Democrat.

Remember, we just turned deep-red at the federal level in 1980, so we still have some Democrat tendencies especially amongst our 50+ year old patrons and 18-22 year olds.

[Sam Spade]

Thats what I think, too.  I say that because at the state level we still tend to go Democrat, though in 2004 we did elect our first Republican Speaker of the House in 80 years.  The Senate is still Democrat-controlled and the House is barely GOP, and of course the Governor's Mansion is Democrat.

Remember, we just turned deep-red at the federal level in 1980, so we still have some Democrat tendencies especially amongst our 50+ year old patrons and 18-22 year olds.

Agreed.  I was merely commenting on the strength of Gubernatorial candidate. 

If Henry had gotten a situation like, say, Freundthal of WY, I would be singing a different tune, because at the state level, Oklahoma is much, much more Democrat than Wyoming.

[minionofmidas]

Remember, we just turned deep-red at the federal level in 1980

2004.

2004

2000

1996

[Joe Biden 2020]

Remember, we just turned deep-red at the federal level in 1980

2004.

2004

2000

1996

Whenever it was, it hasn't been very long.

[jokerman]

Hey, nice to see you back on the forums, BushOklahoma.

[WalterMitty]

henry wins in a walk.

[Virginian87]

henry wins in a walk.

^^^^Thankfully.  Henry is one of the best Democratic governors in the country.

[Q]

The last poll I saw had Henry beating Istook by about 25 points.  How will this be close?


Also, it looks like I have to change my avatar now, in keeping with my policy of remaining avatar-unique.

[Joe Biden 2020]

The last poll I saw had Henry beating Istook by about 25 points.  How will this be close?


Also, it looks like I have to change my avatar now, in keeping with my policy of remaining avatar-unique.

It may be a 25 point lead right now, and I do agree that Henry will probably win, but I think it will be much closer than 25 points.  I'm guessing it will be under 10 points.  Remember this is only mid-July, still 8 1/2 days before Oklahoma's primary.  Anything can happen in the next 3 1/2 months.  This is just my analysis.  I may be wrong in my analysis, but as a resident of the state of Oklahoma, this is just what I think will happen.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I know personally I'm voting for Brad Henry because I don't want a Mormon in my Governors Mansion.  I'm a solid Christian and I want a Christian in my Governors Mansion.

[Boris]

I know personally I'm voting for Brad Henry because I don't want a Mormon in my Governors Mansion.  I'm a solid Christian and I want a Christian in my Governors Mansion.

You're voting for Henry based upon his religion? ROFL.

[Alcon]

I know personally I'm voting for Brad Henry because I don't want a Mormon in my Governors Mansion.  I'm a solid Christian and I want a Christian in my Governors Mansion.

With all respect, how would his being Mormon affect his ability to govern?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I know personally I'm voting for Brad Henry because I don't want a Mormon in my Governors Mansion.  I'm a solid Christian and I want a Christian in my Governors Mansion.

You're voting for Henry based upon his religion? ROFL.

Partly, yes, and I like what he's done overall as Governor, not just that he's a Christian.

He's increased education funding.  He's trying to increase the teacher's wages, which, as everybody knows, is among the lowest, if not the lowest, in the nation.  He may have done it in a way I don't agree with, but beggers can't be choosers.

Oklahoma is also becoming more racially and ethnically diverse.

Oklahoma City is attracting many businesses and big-time corporations that were originally on either coasts, such as Dell.

Oklahoma City is one of the faster growing cities in the nation.  In 2000 we had about 509,000 and now we are closing in on 540,000.  It was started by Frank Keating, but hastened by Brad Henry.

Brad Henry has done some very good things for Oklahoma and I do hope he wins a second and final term.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I know personally I'm voting for Brad Henry because I don't want a Mormon in my Governors Mansion.  I'm a solid Christian and I want a Christian in my Governors Mansion.

With all respect, how would his being Mormon affect his ability to govern?

It wouldn't affect it at all, its just a personal preference of mine.