OK Dems Pull Back On OK-02 Special Election
Dems forgo 2nd District election lawsuit
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Democratic Party leaders decided Monday not to file a lawsuit over U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin’s victory in the 2nd District over the Democratic nominee who died two days before the general election.
Although party Chairman Wallace Collins said he believes a legal challenge would have been successful, he said most party officers voted not to pursue legal action.
“In reading state law, it’s very plain and explicit that the governor shall call a special election, and our lawyers felt like were on solid legal ground to pursue that,” he said. “But I think the majority of the reasoning was that there’s no guarantee.
“I also think financial considerations had to come into effect.”
Mullin, a Republican. won a second term in office with 70 percent of the vote over the Democrat, Earl Everett, and an independent. But Everett, 81, was critically injured in a car accident. He died Nov. 2, two days before Election Day.