Politics of Oklahoma
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Until very recently, Oklahoma was considered a "swing state" in American politics, meaning, Oklahoma went back and forth between supporting the two major parties (Democrats and Republicans). Typically, Oklahoma voters would split their political allegiances (electing Democrats for local government, but Republicans for national office). In general, Oklahoma can be characterized as a politically conservative state (with a few exceptions).
For information in the state, county, and local government of Oklahoma, see Government of Oklahoma.
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[edit] Political history
[edit] New Deal coalition
At the U.S. Presidential level, Oklahoma's electoral college vote was a reliable part of Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" coalition (which began in the U.S. election of 1932). Oklahoma did support President Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, but then returned to supporting the Democrats in 1964 (Oklahoma split its electoral college vote in 1960).
During this same time period, Oklahoma's Governors, legislature, and delegation to Congress continued to be dominated by the Democratic party.
[edit] Southern strategy
During the presidential campaign in 1968, Oklahoma was targeted by the Republican party to be included in what was called the Southern Strategy. Beginning with the second Presidential campaign of Richard Nixon (who appealed to Oklahoma voters on the issue of law and order), Oklahoma gradually changed in its voting pattern in national elections to become an increasingly reliable Republican state for presidential tickets. In fact, Oklahoma has supported the Republican candidate for president in every election since 1968. President George W. Bush carried Oklahoma twice (by a wide margin), in 2000 and 2004, for example.
Gradually, the success of the Republican Party began to translate into Congressional, legislative, and other local political races.
[edit] Oklahoma politics today
By the start of the 21st century, conservative Republicans are the rising force in Oklahoma, but Democrats can be said to continue to dominate state and local politics.
[edit] Current Oklahoma Delegation to Congress
- Senior U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (Republican)
- Junior U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (Republican)
U.S. House of Representatives:
- Congressional Dist. 1 Rep. John Sullivan (Republican)
- Congressional Dist. 2 Rep. Dan Boren (Democrat)
- Congressional Dist. 3 Rep. Frank Lucas (Republican)
- Congressional Dist. 4 Rep. Tom Cole (Republican)
- Congressional Dist. 5 Rep. Ernest Istook (Republican)
[edit] Current composition of the Oklahoma legislature
As the two tables demonstrate, below, Oklahoma's legislature is closely divided between the two parties--with the Republicans in control of the Oklahoma House and the Democrats in control of the Oklahoma Senate.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives
| Affiliation | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 57 | |
| Democratic Party | 44 | |
| Seat Vacant | 0 | |
| Total | 101 | |
The Oklahoma Senate
| Affiliation | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 26 | |
| Republican Party | 22 | |
| Seat Vacant | 0 | |
| Total | 48 | |
(Note: On August 3, 2006, the Daily Oklahoman reported that Oklahoma State Senator Nancy Riley has decided to switch parties from Republican to Democrat. [1] This change is reflected in the Oklahoma State Senate numbers listed above.)
[edit] See also
- Split-ticket voting
- Oklahoma Democratic Party
- Oklahoma Republican Party
- Oklahoma Congressional Districts
- United States Congressional Delegations from Oklahoma
- List of United States Senators from Oklahoma
- Governor of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Legislature
- List of politics by U.S. state
- Party switching in the United States
