Brogdon Considering Senate Race

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There is social media speculation today that Republican State Chairman Randy Brogdon may be considering a race for the Senate District 34 seat that will be vacated by Senator Rick Brinkley of Owasso at year’s end, and Brogdon confirms he’s interested.

Brogdon has not responded to TMR’s email requests for comment; he told the Tulsa World he is considering the race.

The seat previously was held by Brogdon, who also lives in Owasso.

Brinkley, under criminal investigation and facing a civil lawsuit over a million dollars in losses at the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa, which he headed for five years, resigned in letters delivered to the Senate and the Secretary of State by an emissary.

The speculation about Brogdon apparently began in Tulsa, where he has a cadre of hardcore supporters. Today, Oklahoma City Senator Kyle Loveless posted the speculation on Facebook.

Governor Fallin set these dates for the process: The filing period is August 31 through September 2. The primary will be November 10. The general election will be January 12.

Brogdon was elected GOP chairman in April. His tenure has been marked by controversy, first over his hiring of an assistant, then over a social media comment.

There’s immediate speculation that Brogdon might want to remain GOP chairman and seek the Senate seat.

Tulsa County GOP Chairman Mike Ford posted this comment: “He has just as much right to run as anyone else, but not while serving as chairman. OKGOP Chairman is a full time, paying job, and that individual needs to eat, drink and sleep OKGOP. Also, having access to voter, donor and volunteer lists, as well as other resources, is a huge disadvantage to primary opponents, which is why elected officers should always stay neutral. It’s a huge conflict of interest and abuse of the office. Randy gave me his word he would stay neutral in primary elections. That should include his own. He needs to keep his promise and serve with honor as our state chairman or step down to pursue his personal goals.”

One of Brogdon’s erstwhile supporters, Julia Seay of Yukon, says he is not going to run and she denigrates the Tulsa World: “No, he isn’t (running for the Senate seat). Please don’t read TW for information on Randy Brogdon. They are no more than a tabloid.”

 


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  1. KINGJAMES, 11 August, 2015

    Randy needs to be committed to on e or the other not both. He should finish the job he started and begin to focus the dialogue and the republican legislature on true government reduction. the fact that all state agencies have cut services to those who are in need – elderly and disadvantaged and not announced one government employee layoff or staff reduction is a slap in the face to the taxpaying citizens of this state.

  2. Jamison Faught, 12 August, 2015

    If Randy plans to run, he should follow Gary Jones’ example and step down. Although it’s not specifically against State Party Rules, it’s inappropriate for the state chairman to be a candidate for office and still hold his party post.

    In the meantime, since the party’s Facebook page posted “If you live in State Senate District 34 and would like to run for this position, please contact our office at 405-528-3501”, Chairman Brogdon should make public his plans, because a candidate contacting the state party should know whether they’re simply contacting a potential primary rival or whether they’re legitimately getting the help they as a Republican candidate deserve.

  3. Cinbin, 12 August, 2015

    I think it’s interesting that the State Party is NOW broadcasting about a special election. There’s been a special election going on in Oklahoma County since JUNE and the State Party hasn’t said one word about it on Twitter, FaceBook nor the Party website. The primary election date wasn’t on the calendar of events and neither is the general election date. What makes this special election much more “special”? One has to wonder.

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