Shannon Files Paperwork To Fundraise, Explore Race For Senate
House Speaker T.W. Shannon to mull U.S. Senate bid
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY — House Speaker T.W. Shannon inched closer to a decision on whether he will run for the U.S. Senate, with one of his advisers saying Tuesday that the Lawton Republican is forming an exploratory committee to explore the feasibility of such a campaign.
Trebor Worthen, a former state representative who has been a campaign consultant to Shannon as well as 2nd District U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, among others, said Shannon would file the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.
Under federal election laws, organizing an exploratory committee allows a potential candidate to raise a relatively small amount of money without following the regular reporting requirements. The person organizing the exploratory committee cannot identify themselves as a candidate for the office in question.