OK-01, OK-05: Dems Hoping to Test Pair of Deep Red GOP Seats

[ccharles000]

You wouldn't think of Oklahoma as particularly fertile territory for Democratic pickups in Congress lately, but the Oklahoma Democratic Party (and, apparently, the DCCC) is hoping to line up a couple of stronger-than-expected challengers in a pair of GOP districts, according to the Southern Political Report. In the 1st CD, Democrats are attempting to test GOP Rep. John Sullivan for weaknesses. (Sullivan, as you may recall, checked into the Betty Ford clinic earlier this year due to his alcohol addiction.) However, any Democrat would likely have a tough time overcoming the district's GOP bent; McCain won the CD by a 64-36 margin (R+16 PVI) and the district hasn't sent a Democrat to the House since James Robert Jones held down the seat for seven terms until his retirement in 1987. The Southern Political Report identifies outgoing Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, a potential self-funder, as a possible Dem recruit, but also names former state Sens. Scott Pruitt and Jim Williamson as potential Republican primary opponents for Sullivan.

Over in the Oklahoma City-based 5th CD, where incumbent Republican Mary Fallin is jumping ship in order to pursue her gubernatorial ambitions, the "hottest rumor" on the block is that Kim Henry, wife of Democratic Gov. Brad Henry and celebrated educator, is interested in running. The Governor's office, though, says that the First Lady has "no plans to run for public office". OK-05 looks like it has the potential to be the more interesting race of the Oklahoma duo, though, as it was the only district in Oklahoma that had an appreciable shift towards the Democrats in 2008. (Obama lost the district by 41-59, up from a 36-64 Kerry loss four years earlier.) For the GOP, an expensive primary is already brewing between state Rep. Mike Thompson and former state Rep. Kevin Calvey.

Popular Oklahoma City Mayor Tom Cornett, who ran for the open 5th CD GOP primary to Fallin in 2006, announced yesterday that he'll seek a third term in 2010. That takes a run for the House off the table, and he also explicitly ruled out a run for Governor or Lt. Governor, too.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5482/ok01-ok05-dems-hoping-to-test-pair-of-deep-red-gop-seats

[nyc 4 Biden]

1. Keep up the good work! +rec

Great work ccharles on all the informative posts on statewide political matters!

These types of posts are one of the reasons why I came to DU in the first place. We won't find these stories on the cable news shows, thats for sure.

[WI_DEM]

2. Well I hope they win but whoever they are will be worthless once they get to Washington

because to "protect" there seats they will end up voting on most issues like republicans.

[Arkana]

3. Yeah, great. Just what we need--another pair of Dan Borens.