Candidates flock to Capitol to file for office
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two-hundred and six candidates on Wednesday flocked to the Capitol for the first day of filing for legislative and congressional seats. Two hundred and six candidates have filed for legislative and congressional seats in Oklahoma. Former state Sen. Ron Sharp filed for his old office, Senate District 17, currently held by Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, and Republican Cody Swearingen. Lisa Standridge, wife of Sen. Rob Standridge in District 15, filed for her current seat. Democrats Michelle McCane and Adam Martin filed for House District 72, which is being held by Rep. Monroe Nichols, who is running for Tulsa mayor. Democrats Madison Horn filed for the 5th Congressional District, previously held by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, and others for the Corporation Commission seat. The primary is June 18 and the runoff primary is Aug. 27.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Barbara Hoberock Oklahoma Voice Special to The Banner in Politics
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two-hundred and six candidates on Wednesday flocked to the Capitol for the first day of filing for legislative and congressional seats.
Former state Sen. Ron Sharp filed for his old office, Senate District 17, currently held by Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee.
Jett defeated Sharp, a retired teacher, in the Aug. 25, 2020, primary runoff by a vote of 59.39% to 40.61%.
Sharp said the primary will be very difficult.
“Of course the incumbent is going to be giving me heck and because he has some extreme groups backing him,” Sharp said.
“The only thing more fun than whipping Ron Sharp once is whipping him twice,” Jett said.
Republican Cody Swearingen has also filed. Both Sharp and Swearingen are also from Shawnee.
Lisa Standridge, the wife of Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, filed for his current seat in District 15. Rob Standridge is term limited.
The race also drew Republicans Tommie Herell, Robert C. Keyes, Brandon Nofire and Democrat Elizabeth Forman. All are from Norman.
Tulsa Democrats Michelle McCane and Adam Martin filed for House District 72 currently held by Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa. Nichols is running for Tulsa mayor.
“I feel like right now it is a good time to step in and bring some logic and sanity,” McCane said. “I know that we are traditionally really partisan, at least here recently. I would love to get away from that and get back to people over party.”
Republicans J. Brian Bingman of Sapulpa, Justin Hornback of Broken Arrow and Democrat Harold D. Spradling of Oklahoma City filed for the Corporation Commission seat being vacated by Republican Bob Anthony, who has held the post since 1989.
All three have made unsuccessful bids previously for the Corporation Commission.
Democrat Madison Horn filed for the 5th Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., holds the post and also filed Wednesday.
Horn previously made a failed bid for the U.S. Senate.
Horn, of Oklahoma City, called Congress ineffective, adding that she is frustrated with the polarization in Washington D.C..
She said the nation has the most ineffective Congress in history.
“It is time to restore a functioning government,” Horn said. “We need officials who are courageous, who can work above the party politics to get things done.”
She works in cyber security and is CEO of Critical Fault and Roserock Group.
A list of candidates can be found on the Oklahoma State Election Board website.
The primary is June 18. The runoff primary is Aug. 27. The general election is Nov. 5.