Congressional Races? What Congressional Races?

Oklahoma's five seats in Congress will be filled in three weeks and odds are four of them will be filled by those who occupy them now and the fifth will be filled by the runaway winner of the Republican runoff.

The elections prompt some to ask, "What congressional races?" In Tulsa's 1st District, incumbent Republican John Sullivan faces Democrat Alan Gentges of Bartlesville and Independent Bill Wortman of Tulsa. Observers there say it's a Sullivan win walking away. In northeastern Oklahoma's 2nd District, Democrat Dan Boren will demonstrate his growing political muscle by dispatching Snow rancher Patrick Miller, a Republican who's been on the ballot before. In western Oklahoma's 3rd District, Congressman Frank Lucas will bury Tulsan Sue Barton, described in an Associated Press story as one of those involved "in the decision of two lesbian couples to file a lawsuit against the state and federal laws that deny recognition to same-sex unions." Barton said in the article that she and her partner obtained a "civil union in Vermont in 2001." In the 4th District, Congressman Tom Cole's Democrat opponent is Hal Spake of Norman; Cole should win easily. In Oklahoma City's 5th District, the only open seat race this year, Lt. Governor Mary Fallin should move to Congress, easily defeating Democrat Dr. David Hunter and Independent Matthew Woodson. Fallin finished first in the multi-candidate GOP primary and dispatched popular Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett easily in their runoff.

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