click here to read Nondoc's full article. The following is a cut & paste synopsis.
One year out: Stitt faces six challengers, AG and superintendent primaries hot
Conventional wisdom would indicate that anyone planning to run for such a major elected position needs to be at least raising money and increasing their name identification one year out from Election Day. (The 2022 primary election is scheduled for June 28, with the runoff election date set for Aug. 23.)
Early campaign committee registrations show two hotly contested GOP primaries for the (functionally) open seats of attorney general, superintendent of public instruction and corporation commissioner. But no Democrat has formed a committee yet in those races, perhaps triggering coattail concerns for the party’s eventual gubernatorial nominee.
While several of Oklahoma’s mundane statewide elected offices — lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner — may avoid contentious primary challenges, the state’s incumbent governor and an incumbent U.S. senator will be fighting off opponents from their right flanks.
Six gubernatorial candidates have formed campaign committees with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to challenge Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (Republican) next November. The candidates include former State Sen. Dr. Ervin Yen (first a Republican, now an independent), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister (elected twice to statewide office as a Republican, but now running as a Democrat), former State Sen. Connie Johnson (Democrat), marketing executive Natalie Bruno (Libertarian) and naturopathic doctor and retired Tulsa Police Sgt. Mark Sherwood (Republican).
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell has formed his committee to run for reelection and, at this point, is the only candidate in the race.
Current Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor and attorney and businessman Gentner Drummond have both formed campaign committees as Republicans for the AG election next November.
Oklahoma County Commissioner David Hooten formed his campaign committee (for state treasurer) with the Ethics Commission on June 30. Term-limited State Rep. Todd Russ (R-Cordell) formed his campaign committee for state treasurer on July 31. Russ is the chairman of the the Appropriations and Budget Transportation Subcommittee and serves on the full Appropriations and Budget Committee, the Common Education Committee and the Insurance Committee. On Nov. 9, one day after the original publication of this post, former State Sen. Clark Jolley announced his candidacy for state treasurer, saying in his release that he has the “relevant experience” to succeed in the position.
State Secretary of Education Ryan Walters, Shawnee Public Schools Superintendent April Grace and Peggs Public Schools Superintendent John Cox have all formed committees to run as Republicans for the open state superintendent of public instruction position.
A former president pro tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and a currently influential member of the same body are both seeking the Republican nomination for the Corporation Commission seat being vacated by the term-limited Dana Murphy. Sen. Kim David (R-Porter) and Oklahoma Secretary of State Brian Bingman are the only two people to have formed campaign committees for the open Corporation Commission seat so far.
Incumbent State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd (Republican) is the only person who has registered a 2022 campaign committee with the Ethics Commission for state auditor and inspector so far.
Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready (Republican) is the only person who has registered a 2022 campaign committee with the Ethics Commission for insurance commissioner so far.
Incumbent Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn (Republican) is the only person who has registered a 2022 campaign committee with the Ethics Commission so far to rerun for that position.
For U.S. Senate, Incumbent Sen. James Lankford represented Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District for two terms prior to winning an open U.S. Senate seat in 2014. A pair of Democrats have also launched challenges to Lankford. Originally from Elk City, Oklahoma City attorney Jason Bollinger announced his candidacy first and formed a committee in September. On Oct. 21, Stilwell native Madison Horn also announced her campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
Oklahoma’s five Congressional Districts will also have elections in 2022. CD 1 incumbent Rep. Kevin Hern (R), CD 2 incumbent Rep. Markwayne Mullins (R), CD 3 incumbent Rep. Frank Lucas (R), CD 4 incumbent Rep. Tom Cole (R) and CD 5 incumbent Rep. Stephanie Bice (R) are all seeking reelection.
Adam Martin, a 2020 Oklahoma State University graduate, formed a committee to run for CD1 as a Democrat on Sept. 27. John Swoboda, a Tulsa-based teacher, filed to run for CD1 as a Democrat in March. Democrat Abby Broyles formed her campaign committee for CD 5 in August.
