Southern Political Report Breaks Down Senate Race
Oklahoma GOP in major US Senate battle
By Hastings Wyman, Southern Political Report
When Tom Coburn (R-OK) announced he would resign from his US Senate seat at the end of this year, he set up a contest among his fellow GOPers to fill the two years remaining in his term. The top two candidates, in fundraising and the opinion polls, are US Rep. James Lankford (R-OK) and state House Speaker T. W. Shannon (R). A third contender who has been a major vote-getter in the past is former state Sen. Randy Brogdon (R).
The primary will be held on June 24; if no candidate gets a majority, a runoff will be held on August 26. The General Election is on November 4.
US Rep. James Lankford, 46, is now in is second term. He has a background in religion, serving in youth ministries and evangelism for Oklahoma’s Baptist General Convention. Most recently, he was program director of Falls Creek, the nation’s largest Christian camp, a post he relinquished in 2009 to run for Congress. He led in the primary and won an easy victory – 65% to 33% — in the runoff. Lankford quickly made a positive impression on his fellow Republicans in the House. In his second term, he became chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, which made him a member of the House leadership.
In the House, Lankford has made a conservative record, supporting lower taxes, spending cuts, gun rights, and more exploration and production of oil and natural gas. He also opposes abortion. However, he ran afoul of some conservatives when he voted for the Ryan-Murray federal budget and to raise the debt ceiling.
Lankford is the choice of the center-right Republican establishment and been endorsed by Mike Huckabee, who prior to his political career, was an active Baptist minister.