Political Tuesday: Dorman Enters Governor's Race, Shannon Steps Down

The political scene in Oklahoma gets more intriguing by the day.

Tuesday, February 4th 2014, 5:04 pm

By: News 9


The political scene in Oklahoma gets more intriguing by the day. We now know Mary Fallin has a Democratic opponent and leadership in the state House is suddenly up for grabs.

A lot of what we're seeing is fallout from Senator Coburn's announcement that he's leaving the U.S. Senate, but not all of it. This is a gubernatorial election year, regardless, and Mary Fallin is running for a second term.

Former state senator and fellow Republican Randy Brogdon is challenging Fallin for the GOP nomination.

On Tuesday, current State Representative Joe Dorman, a democrat from Rush Springs, formally threw his hat in the ring.

Dorman blasted Fallin for -- he claims -- widening the economic divide in the state, slashing education funding while other states increase theirs and failing to offer a viable solution to the need for school storm shelters.

"Shamefully, her proposal forces Oklahoma families to choose between the largest property tax increase in state history and the safety of their children," said Rep. Joe Dorman, (D) Rush Springs.

While Dorman was making his announcement about entering the race for governor, House Speaker T.W. Shannon was making an announcement of his own.

2/4/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon Steps Down From Top Post

We knew Shannon was challenging James Lankford in running for Coburn's soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat, but now we know he won't try to simultaneously serve as Speaker.

1/16/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn To Resign After Current Session

So, obviously this sets up a race for Speaker, the Republicans -- the majority in the House -- have three candidates: Mike Jackson, who is now the Acting Speaker, Jeff Hickman, and Jason Nelson.

The caucus will elect one of them on Monday, February 10.

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