Voters Quiz Candidates For Oklahoma Congressional Seat

Republican primary candidates for the state's second congressional district greeted voters Saturday in Claremore. The six men are vying to replace Oklahoma's only Democrat in Congress. Congressman Dan Boren is not seeking a fifth term.

Boren is the state's only Democratic member of Congress, and the Rogers County GOP see this election as a chance to reclaim that district.

Six men are hoping to win the republican primary for the 2nd congressional district. Voters quizzed them at this candidate forum in Claremore, especially on their backgrounds.

"What have they done? Are they career politicians? Or are they people who have lived in the real world and know what it's like to live on a budget?" republican voter Lisa Stiles said. 

The six candidates are State Representative George Faught, Broken Arrow businessman Mark Wayne Mullin, former state representative Wayne Pettigrew, attorney Dustin Rowe, pastor Dwayne Thompson and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Dakota Wood.

"I really don't want a politician," said Kelly Fincannon, republican voter. "I don't want someone who has been there and been corrupted by the system in Washington. I want someone that's new and fresh."

The candidates answered questions from the audience like how to successfully reform the tax code, what role the federal government should play in stimulating the economy and how to control government spending.

"Want them to have an understanding of the intent and purpose of that rulebook we are supposed to govern ourselves by, which is the U.S. Constitution," said Howard Houchen, republican voter.

These voters have expectations as big as the 2nd district. It covers the eastern third of the state, stretching from Kansas all the way to Texas and it's traditionally been a democratic stronghold.

"It's an election we haven't won as republicans in quite a while and so it's very important race coming up here and it's an opportunity to seize on a year that looks like Republicans are going to be strong," republican voter Brian Lepak said.

Oklahoma's primary election day, also known as "Super Tuesday" is March 6, 2012.