State Campaign Filings: The Complete List [updated]

Complete Filing List 2016 State Races Sooner Politics' analysts have combed through     the several hundred documents & declarations, to bring together a list of all the candidates,  parties, and races.  Here are all the Candidate's Submitted Forms:  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday The Election Board's Weekly Report The results of the contest hearings, on 4/25

The Billion Dollar Smoked Pig: TSET's Hidden Stash

The Big Smoked Pig

By Theodore King...  
  This season we read and hear a barrage of press stories about Oklahoma's budget shortfall due to falling oil prices. The legislature is looking for ways to make ends meet including cuts to existing programs that benefit people in need. Just this past week we learned of a shortfall in the state's share of the Medicaid program for the indigent. There is a big smoked pig in our state that should be carved up to take care of some immediate needs. The legislature merely needs to approve a proposed state question that could be placed on the November ballot.

We Spend Millions on Prisons But a Pittance for Mental Health

By Rep. Brian Renegar, DVM

  As the old Fram oil filter commercial goes, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.” That, my friends, is the scenario we find ourselves in with the mental health issue in Oklahoma.

  This issue is not as sexy as, say, the Presidential race, but it is one that needs to be addressed. I have heard some at the State Capitol question whether one of government’s core functions is to even screen and treat Oklahomans who are afflicted with some type of mental illness.

  Remember: It has been widely reported that 23-25% of all Oklahomans have some type of treatable mental illness. Our Corrections Department has long been the main filtering device for far too many mental health cases. Our prison’s populations have more than 50% on psychogenic drugs. Only in Oklahoma would we lose a statewide elected official, Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, to a mental health murder by his own child – and then casually kick 73,000 people off the mental health rolls in the same 12-month period, and with very little public outcry.

Liberals Censored By Oklahoma Democrat Leadership

  There appears to be a possible civil war brewing within the Oklahoma Democrat party over an email sent to legislative leaders, ordering them into silence on many unpopular liberal issues.

  The Gayly (an advocacy journal of the homosexual cause) published a story which complained about the email from the Oklahoma Democrat Party Chairman. In the email, he lists several hot-button liberal issues which he ordered Democrat leaders to keep their mouths shut about.

Why March 23rd Common Core May Be Coming Back to Oklahoma

Brought to You by State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister

By: Kevin Batts II

  While the electorate is distracted by the Republican Presidential primaries candidates, the voters in Oklahoma are unaware that Common Core is about to be brought back to their state. The Oklahoma legislature has been lulled to sleep and unaware of how close they are to bringing back Common Core via approving newly submitted state education standards.

Problems With The Romney Initiative

  Recently, former Republican Presidential Nominee, Mitt Romney, called the national media together in Salt Lake City to address the state of the GOP nominating process. In that address, he condemned the candidacy of Donald Trump as being a rouse and a con job. He stated that such a nominee would destroy the Republican chances of winning the general election, and if by chance Trump did win, it would have devastating consequences for the party and the nation.

  Romney put forth a strategy to defeat Trump by asking other campaigns to focus on only the states where they are the strongest alternative candidacy to that of Trump. He said "Ohioans should vote for Kasich and Floridians should vote for Rubio," and in other states the GOP voters should apply a similar logic. He said that even if it doesn't result in another candidate attaining an outright nomination, at least it would open the door to other options through a "brokered" convention.

Millennial Blogger Scolds GOP For Juvenile Campaigns, Joins Libertarian Party

A Political “Reality”?

Guest article by Alex Allen, of Big Blog of Justice & Freedom

  Magical realism or fabulism is when, in a normal or typical time or place, there is an event or situation so outlandish or preposterous, it can scarcely be believed. Typically this refers to literature, but now we find that description is very fitting for this election – which seems to be coming down to, who sweats the most?

Please, I beg of you, don’t vote for either of these two clowns on Tuesday!

Asset Forfeiture: Pirates of Route 66

Guest Opinion: by Joanna Francisco of Liberty Of Tap - Tulsa, OK:

Inspired by Tulsa DA, Steve Kunzweiler; Canadian County Sheriff, Randall Edwards;
and Senate Judiciary Chairman, Anthony Sykes.

Civil Asset Forfeiture? C'mon...this is Civil Asset Piracy and these are the Pirates of Oklahoma - 

  When I first learned of Civil Asset Forfeiture, I was shocked that there was even such a thing. I mean, I am not naive about government corruption, but government representatives writing laws allowing government agents to steal property from citizens who have not been convicted of, or even charged with, a crime seemed a bit over the top even for government. Here’s what got me started on this issue: Taken by Sarah Stillman from the August 2013 issue of The New Yorker. To date, it’s the most thorough article I have ever read on the subject.  Since Oklahoma was mentioned in this article as one of the states in which Civil Asset Forfeiture is common practice, this issue become high on my radar.

Dr. Tom Coburn: An Open Letter To Oklahoma's Legislators

After serving in both houses of congress, Dr. Coburn diagnoses
an institutional illness and prescribes an effective treatment.

  Former Senator Tom Coburn, understands the problems in Washington better than anyone, Here is a recent letter he wrote to the Oklahoma legislature.

 Dear Oklahoma Legislator,
I am proud to be an Oklahoman, and I was proud to represent our state during my time in the United States Senate. One of the biggest lessons I learned during that time was that our federal government is like a runaway freight train. It will continue to overstep its constitutional boundaries and usurp more and more of states’ rights and individual liberties until someone or something stops it.
  Under Article V of the Constitution, you are the ones empowered to stop it, through a state-led convention for proposing amendments. Only through formal amendments can the states put effective checks on judicial activism, reject the damage that has been done to the Constitution through creative “interpretations” of some of its provisions, and impose meaningful fiscal restraints on Washington.

The Islamic Supremacists Movement: Skinheads With Beards

Op/Ed By Al Gerhart, of the Sooner Tea Party.

The Real Islam According to the Qur'an:

  The real face of Islam isn’t found in the soft mouthed platitudes given by the CAIR leader and the State Chamber of Commerce, the real face of Islam is found in the Qur’an and in the speeches and writings of their spiritual leader. Despite this the liberals are intent on supporting the Muslims as it is one more group that adds numbers and weight to what the liberals think is a united front against conservative values.

Top Ten Reasons To Condemn Islam

  We found these top ten reasons a reasonable person should condemn Islam  online and borrowed heavily from various sources on the Muslim faith in this compilation:

The Elephant in the OKGOP’s Living Room

By former District 85 State Representative, Porter Davis:

  Officials in the Oklahoma Republican Party are still in denial about the September loss of a perpetually GOP-held seat in a Elephant Mary special election for House District 85. At recent county and state GOP meetings, I heard the often-repeated mantras that the Democrat “outworked” the Republican, that more “liberals” are moving into the district, and that the Carter campaign thought they could just cruise to victory in this “safe” seat. They either don’t see, or don’t want to address, the real issue, the elephant in the living room.

  My perspective on HD 85 is unique. I ran for the seat twice, once losing as an Independent in 1976, and again winning as a Reagan Republican in 1982. I received 63% of the vote in a district with a majority of registered Democrats. I’ve kept a watchful eye on that district since. Subsequent GOP Reps in that seat were Mike Hunter, Mary Fallin, Odelia and David Dank. All did a good job representing their district.

  So what happened? Is it really so simple that Cyndi Munson, an energetic, personable liberal Democrat just “outworked”political veteran and insider, conservative Republican Chip Carter?

Sooner Politics Expands To TV and Radio

The SoonerPolitics channel, on Roku

Oklahoma Political News & Events on your television - on demand

  The printed word only gives us a portion of the whole story. Oklahoma's conservatives are producing telecasts, Radio shows, And coverage of major political events all over the Sooner State. These journalistic endeavors are best presented in multimedia devices. So we turned to Roku as an open-source set top device which turns any TV into a limitless 'cable network' of sorts.

Detailed Facts On Asset Forfeiture Reforms

   Blogger, Kaye Beach of Oklahoma City, Details important aspects of the effort to reform the process by law enforcement known as Civil Asset Forfeiture. The subject is not particularly simple, and fundamentally departs from the constitutional mandate of the same due process which citizens are guaranteed.

Four Reforms to Note in Oklahoma Personal Asset Protection Act SB 838

By Kaye Beach Sept 20, 2015 - Sen. Kyle Loveless is the author of SB 838, the Personal Asset Protection Act which would give more protection to innocent property owners from the practice of civil asset forfeiture.   It is a good bill but to my dismay, I keep running into misconceptions about the measure.  Legislation is a little tricky to read and often, the media does not break them down very well.

Super Tuesday On Steroids

Perhaps 25 states will make selections in an 11-day span.

Just 6 months from now, the 2016 Presidential nomination process will reach fever pitch. 

  It all starts Friday, Feb. 26th, with a hastily reshuffled presidential debate coming from a Texas venue. The next day, South Carolina looks to hold a Saturday primary.

  Then North Carolina will join Oklahoma, Texas, and the massive list of Super Tuesday (March 1st) states for a series of primaries and caucus events. Anywhere between 10 and 17 states are projected to hold selections in the first week of March.

Rep. Jason Murphey Masters The Art Of Representation

  Once again the Oklahoma Constitution Newspaper has released their annual Legislative scoring report. The Conservative Index is the most established Oklahoma legislator scoring system. They carefully pick a set of 10 key pieces of legislation which collectively indicate the conservative mindset (or lack thereof).  And once again Rep. Jason Murphey  has 'aced' the test.
  Look for the Conservative Index Annual Report, from the Oklahoma Constitution Newspaper. You may subscribe, here: http://www.oklahomaconstitution.com/ns.php?index=1

   I called Jason and we visited about this past session.

  Jason agreed to give us a few minutes of his time for a question/answer session. Here's our dialogue;
Sooner Politics: You keep scoring so well in the Oklahoma Constitution's Conservative Index. How do you do it?

Oklahoma Dems Call Out To Independents

Democrats Meet To Ratify Change To Open Primaries In Oklahoma

  The long history of Oklahoma's Democrat Party has plunged to yet new lows in the wake of recent Republican landslides and the Democrats' own socialist national leadership.

 To combat the bleak outlook for old Democrats, there is a new idea being floated this weekend at the Oklahoma Democrat Convention. Delegates are asked to approve a landmark policy change which will let non-aligned voters have equal voting power with Democrat party regulars. Independent voters will get to vote in Democrat primary races without having to associate themselves to the Democrat platform or aims.

Digression To Mud Wrestling In A Tar Pit

The Tar Pit Of Our Demise

  The great political inspirations of our time are not admired for their mud wrestling skills. To the contrary, they are admired for their disciplined avoidance of baser traits of the political underclass.

  Not content with the expressed will of the tabulated ballots, those who can't lead have taken to sniping at those who have inspired and led.
  The Oklahoma GOP has become the home of the sanctimonious haters. We didn't invite them, they just came.

Oklahoma National Guard Chaplains Endangered By Supreme Court Ruling

Chaplain ministers to an injured man aboard the USS Franklin, 1945

  The recent landmark ruling of the Oklahoma Supreme Court has a dire impact on the troops who protect our state. While serving at home & abroad, the soldiers rely heavily upon the essential spiritual support of the clergy within the Oklahoma National Guard. And chaplains have always been a part of every state's militias.

  But a new and terrifying landmark ruling of the current Oklahoma Supreme Court could have devastating consequences for the entire National Guard of Oklahoma. This current court has ruled that one isolated clause of the constitution should be cited at the exclusion of all other articles, acts, and precedences.

Oklahoma Politics Becoming Musical Chairs

Term Limits throws a wrench in career plans for politicians

  We are entering the phase of the electoral cycle where the political king-makers and proverbial 'smoke-filled rooms' get very active. No ad buys yet, not even a single candidacy announcement. But make no mistake, most of the successful campaigns start during these quiet 'out-years'. The 2016 campaigns will be about the presidency and representatives. Then we move on to a big shuffle.

2018 Futures: 

  Incumbent Corporation Commissioner, Dana Murphy, will likely seek a 2nd term as a Corporation Commissioner.  Incumbent Superintendent of Public Education, Joy Hofmeister, will likely seek a 2nd term.  Most of Oklahoma's statewide elective offices are going to be 'open seats'. That's a term which means the current occupant is not running for another term in the current office.

The 2018 Futures

  Editing the Sooner Politics Online Newspaper brings with it a few interesting perks. One such perk is that I get included in a few circles of intentional gossip. Here's some of that very preliminary and admittedly incomplete gossip. In the 2018 statewide races, the candidates who are rumored (in no particular order) for:

Governor- Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt,  Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb,  Rep. Bridenstine Lt. Governor- Labor Comm. Mark Costello Ins. Comm. John Doak Sen Eddie Fields Attorney General-  Sen. Anthony Sykes Fmr Dist Atty Ryan Leonard

Labor Commissioner- Jason Reese Treasurer- Sen. Clark Jolley Gary Jones Insurance Commissioner- Fmr Workers Comp.  Denise Engle Rep. Glen Mulready Auditor- ?

 The state's voters have pushed Oklahoma to the forefront in term limits. About 25 years ago, Lloyd Noble II masterminded a first-in-the-nation reform which capped legislative serve at 12 years (SQ632).

  And just a few years back, the voters overwhelmingly approved Senator Randy Brogdon's SQ 747, which extended that term limiting concept to statewide elective offices in state government. Our statewide elected leaders are limited to 2 terms in their office. Most of these leaders serve a 4 year term.  Rep Jason Murphey was the House sponsor of that constitutional amendment.

Meet the Democrat-appointed Oklahoma Supreme Court

Only One of the Justices is a Republican Appointee

  Oklahoma has 9 justices serving on the supreme court. One has been there since Governor George Nigh appointed her.  There were 3 Republican Governors since then, but only one justice on the court is an appointee from the 17 years of Republican chief executives.

  A whopping 6 justices were appointed by former Governor Brad Henry. Two of them are the dissenters who sided with the monument. Since George Nigh left the governor's mansion, Democrats have only occupied it for 12 years. And yet there are 8 justices to their legacy.