Race For State Senate Control Starts
By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ With the conclusion of last week's party primaries, the race for control of the Oklahoma Senate kicked into a higher gear.
The Legislature's upper chamber is currently tied for the first time in state history with 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.
Senate Republican leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City is eyeing at least two seats his party could pick up: those held by Democrats Mike Morgan of Stillwater and Nancy Riley of Sand Springs.
Senate Democratic leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee is confident Democrats will retain both the Riley and Morgan seats and possibly make inroads with two seats in western Oklahoma.
"And so, any way you cut the math, if we win two and they win two, we are still tied," Laster said. "Whoever wins three out of four will be in the majority."
Senate District 21: Morgan can't seek re-election due to term limits. Former Payne County Associate District Judge Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater moved on to the general election by defeating Democrat rival Gregory M. Wilson of Carney with 63 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary. Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan of Stillwater on the Nov. 4 ballot.
"Murphy was heavily funded yet didn't have the strongest of showings," Coffee said. "That shows real opportunity."
The district is pretty evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats with nearly 6,000 independents.
"Bob Murphy is a great candidate," Laster said.
Halligan's fundraising is approaching nearly a quarter of a million dollars, while Murphy has raised about $53,250.
Senate District 37: Republican Dan Newberry moved on to challenge Riley in November after defeating Jan Megee in the Republican primary. Riley was originally elected as a Republican, but she switched parties in 2006. The district has 17,215 Democrats, 24,953 Republicans and 5,333 independents, according to state Election Board figures.
To retain the seat, Riley would have to pick up Republicans who voted for Megee, Coffee said. But Laster believes voters in Senate District 37 will vote for the candidate, not the party, adding that Riley, a former school teacher, has represented her constituents very well.
Riley has raised about $211,364 to Newberry's $124,659.
Senate District 27: Term limits mean Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, can't seek re-election to the district, which has 14,292 Democrats, 21,803 Republicans and 3,985 independents. Republican Bryce Marlatt earned nearly 76 percent in the primary against Kevin Evans. Both are from Woodward. Marlatt faces Democrat Bowdy E. Peach of Mooreland in November. Peach is the son of state Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach. His most recent filing with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission indicates he has raised less than $15,000 to Marlatt's nearly $60,000.
Despite that, Coffee said Senate Republicans aren't taking anything for granted and will ensure Marlatt is well-funded.
Laster said the Peach family is well-known in the area.
Senate District 31: Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, faces Democrat Keith Erwin in the district, which has 22,895 Democrats, 9,789 Republicans and 3,872 independents. Barrington has raised nearly twice as much as Erwin.
Impact of presidential politics: The degree of influence that the presidential election will have in the fight for control of the Senate depends on who is asked. Coffee believes the race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama bodes well for the GOP, saying Oklahomans vote for Republicans as president. Coffee said there is nothing at the top of the ticket to help Democrats.
"I think we have learned from looking at this stuff over the years is that in highly visible legislative races, people will make the decision based on the candidate and not the parties," Laster said. "When the top of the ticket seems to help is when the legislative race is not all that visible."
The Legislature's upper chamber is currently tied for the first time in state history with 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.
Senate Republican leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City is eyeing at least two seats his party could pick up: those held by Democrats Mike Morgan of Stillwater and Nancy Riley of Sand Springs.
Senate Democratic leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee is confident Democrats will retain both the Riley and Morgan seats and possibly make inroads with two seats in western Oklahoma.
"And so, any way you cut the math, if we win two and they win two, we are still tied," Laster said. "Whoever wins three out of four will be in the majority."
Senate District 21: Morgan can't seek re-election due to term limits. Former Payne County Associate District Judge Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater moved on to the general election by defeating Democrat rival Gregory M. Wilson of Carney with 63 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary. Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan of Stillwater on the Nov. 4 ballot.
"Murphy was heavily funded yet didn't have the strongest of showings," Coffee said. "That shows real opportunity."
The district is pretty evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats with nearly 6,000 independents.
"Bob Murphy is a great candidate," Laster said.
Halligan's fundraising is approaching nearly a quarter of a million dollars, while Murphy has raised about $53,250.
Senate District 37: Republican Dan Newberry moved on to challenge Riley in November after defeating Jan Megee in the Republican primary. Riley was originally elected as a Republican, but she switched parties in 2006. The district has 17,215 Democrats, 24,953 Republicans and 5,333 independents, according to state Election Board figures.
To retain the seat, Riley would have to pick up Republicans who voted for Megee, Coffee said. But Laster believes voters in Senate District 37 will vote for the candidate, not the party, adding that Riley, a former school teacher, has represented her constituents very well.
Riley has raised about $211,364 to Newberry's $124,659.
Senate District 27: Term limits mean Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, can't seek re-election to the district, which has 14,292 Democrats, 21,803 Republicans and 3,985 independents. Republican Bryce Marlatt earned nearly 76 percent in the primary against Kevin Evans. Both are from Woodward. Marlatt faces Democrat Bowdy E. Peach of Mooreland in November. Peach is the son of state Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach. His most recent filing with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission indicates he has raised less than $15,000 to Marlatt's nearly $60,000.
Despite that, Coffee said Senate Republicans aren't taking anything for granted and will ensure Marlatt is well-funded.
Laster said the Peach family is well-known in the area.
Senate District 31: Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, faces Democrat Keith Erwin in the district, which has 22,895 Democrats, 9,789 Republicans and 3,872 independents. Barrington has raised nearly twice as much as Erwin.
Impact of presidential politics: The degree of influence that the presidential election will have in the fight for control of the Senate depends on who is asked. Coffee believes the race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama bodes well for the GOP, saying Oklahomans vote for Republicans as president. Coffee said there is nothing at the top of the ticket to help Democrats.
"I think we have learned from looking at this stuff over the years is that in highly visible legislative races, people will make the decision based on the candidate and not the parties," Laster said. "When the top of the ticket seems to help is when the legislative race is not all that visible."
Labels: Charlie Laster, Charter Schools. Glenn Coffee, SD21, SD27, SD31, SD37, State Senate Control
posted by Mike McCarville @ 12:41 AM
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