Democrat Numbers Shrinking At State Capitol
Democrats expected to lose ground in Oklahoma Senate
By BARBARA HOBEROCK
OKLAHOMA CITY - The number of Democrats in the Oklahoma State Senate is expected to get smaller.
Three well-known Democrats in the 12-member minority caucus recently announced they would not seek re-election to the 48-member chamber.
Two other Democratic senators are considering races for higher office.
Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, has said he will not seek another term. His announcement was followed by that of Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, and Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Sayre.
“I think all three of those seats are viable pickups for the Republicans,” said Glenn Coffee, the first Republican pro tem in the Senate. Coffee left office in 2010 and went on to be secretary of state under Gov. Mary Fallin. He is now a private practice attorney. He is heavily credited with helping Republicans gain control of Oklahoma’s Senate.