What We’re Watching In Oklahoma Tonight
Oklahoma has two primaries to watch, both on the GOP side. Each is very crowded and likely to go to a primary runoff on Aug. 23.
- Special election for Senate: Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe announced that he would resign this seat effective at the end of the current Congress, precipitating a special election that has attracted 13 Republican candidates. The front-runner is Rep. Markwayne Mullin, but he may fall short of the outright majority necessary to win the nomination. The race for second is likely led by former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon, but hot on his tail are four other candidates: state Sen. Nathan Dahm, Inhofe’s chief of staff Luke Holland, former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and physician Randy Grellner.
- 2nd District: Mullin’s run for Senate has opened up this deep-red seat in eastern Oklahoma, which has drawn 14 GOP contenders. There appear to be nine candidates of some significance, and it’s anyone’s guess as to which two Republicans will advance to a runoff. It could be energy businessman Guy Barker, former state GOP chairman John Bennett, former state Sen. Josh Brecheen, state Rep. Avery Frix, Cherokee Tribal Councilor Wes Nofire, state Sen. Marty Quinn, state Rep. Dustin Roberts, pharmacy executive Chris Schiller or Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee.