Will GOP moves cost some seats?

By Michael McNutt

Published: July 20, 2008

Democrats say they have a good chance of gaining at least a couple seats in the House of Representatives this year, with some optimistic they could regain control of the lower chamber.

But Republicans, who gained control of the House in the 2004 election for the first time in 80 years, are confident they can at least hold onto the majority.

“They're going to be very competitive,” House Democratic leader Danny Morgan said of this year's contested House seats.

“We feel like we're going to make some substantial gains,” said Morgan, of Prague. “If we don't get the majority, we'll be very close.”

House Speaker Chris Benge said Republicans, who own a 57-43 majority, should hold onto the lead. House Democrats lost a member in June when Rep. Terry Hyman, considered likely to win re-election, was killed in a farming accident on his farm near Leon.

“We still are in a very good position to expand our majority from the 57 members that we currently have,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.

Democrats hope to post gains because a Republican committee chairman this year twice prevented parents of autistic children from speaking on whether health insurance companies should be forced to provide autism treatment coverage and another House Republican committee chairman refused to let the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation speak against a proposal to make English the state's official language.

Democrats could benefit from anti-gay comments made earlier this year by Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, during a meeting away from the state Capitol. An audio clip of her speaking was posted on the YouTube Web site in which Kern called homosexual agenda “the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam.”

Republicans, however, counter that Kern, who has a Democratic opponent, is popular in her district and that Oklahomans across the state have rallied to defend her right of free speech.

Twelve-year term limits will end the legislative careers this fall of six House Democrats and one House Republican. Those leaving are Democratic Reps. David Braddock of Altus, James Covey of Custer City, Darrell Gilbert of Tulsa, Al Lindley of Oklahoma City, Ray McCarter of Marlow and Dale Turner of Holdenville, and GOP Rep. Terry Ingmire of Stillwater.

In addition, seven Republicans — including former House Speaker Lance Cargill and two powerful House committee chairmen — and one Democrat decided not to seek re-election.

Cargill, R-Harrah, stepped down from the speaker's office just before the start of this year's legislative session because of personal tax problems.

The state Ethics Commission also is believed to be investigating whether Cargill had anything to do with how political checks intended for the Oklahoma Republican Party instead went to the Oklahoma County Republican Party in 2004. Cargill has denied wrongdoing.

Other House GOP leaders leaving are Majority Floor Leader Greg Piatt of Altus, Rep. Ron Peterson, R-Broken Arrow, chairman of the House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Dennis Adkins, chairman of the House Energy and Technology Committee.

Other House members opting not to seek re-election are Reps. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, and Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. Rep. Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher, is leaving to seek a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and Rep. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, is running for a state Senate seat.

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