Mike McCarville
It is likely the most-watched legislative race on tomorrow’s ballot, the battle for the Senate District 6 seat held by Republican Senator Josh Brecheen in the heart of Little Dixie.
Breechen wrested the seat from Democrat control in Little Dixie by soundly defeating incumbent Democrat Jay Paul Gumm in 2010.
Joe B. Hill
Now, he faces a strong challenge from Democrat Joe B. Hill, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary and has the vigorous support of the State Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and organized labor.
Those organizations, seeking to punish Brecheen for his votes against their pet issues, have poured huge dollars into the get-Brecheen campaign.
Vicki Gaylor is running as an Independent.
Hill is a former assistant to Democrat Dan Boren, the former congressman. Boren is among those supporting Hill.
Senator Tom Coburn, for whom Brecheen used to work, has been a strong and outspoken supporter of Brecheen.
The race has pitted once-allies against each other: The State Chamber of Commerce and OIPA finds themselves opposed by the GOP leadership in the Senate, and by most elected Republicans. Whether the rift becomes a problem from those two groups going forward remains to be seen, but it is clear there is ill will in the air a day before the election.
The State Chamber, in particular, is the target of much of the GOP wrath. Insiders note that former GOP House member Fred Morgan, the State Chamber’s leader, has built his staff from mostly GOP political operatives. It is now suggested some Capitol shoulders might become cold as a result of the group’s attacks on Brecheen.
Brecheen has been defended by, and received endorsements from, numerous entities. The latest endorsement came today, with an announcement from the Family Research Council Action, the political action affiliate of the Family Research Council.
Joshua Duggar, Executive Director of Family Research Council Action, made the following comments regarding the endorsement:
The best public servants simply follow two core values; conscious and constituency.
I know Josh Brecheen has the conscious piece down. His fate on Tuesday depends on the constituency piece. All the outside groups on the world just dont trump his voters. They get to decide.
And we did! We are done with the 100 years of democrat corruption. We chose Senator Brecheen in 2010 and we are proud of the stands he has taken for our district. SD6 is NOT for sale. Thanks Josh for standing for US, not special interests!
Would be interesting to know just how much $$$ the State Chamber & the OIPA spent on this race… They got a really poor return on their investment!!! Hope they got the messages… #1… Our senate seat is not for sale… and #2… Your plot to threaten elected leaders by making an example of Senator Brecheen only exposes what and who you really are. As an organization who should be leading the way on promoting business in and for our state, your money would have been much better spent for what you should be doing rather than trying to buy elections – shame on you Fred Morgan… someone needs to call for an investigation of this bunch of thugs!!