Humphrey asks Ethics Commission to investigate potential Hofmeister misuse of public funds

Humphrey Asks Ethics Commission to Investigate Potential Misuse of Public Funds by Gubernatorial Candidate OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, sent a letter Monday requesting that the Oklahoma Ethics Commission investigate whether state resources were used to further a gubernatorial candidate's campaign during the 2022 election cycle. Humphrey pointed to an investigation by the Washington Examiner which found that the Oklahoma State Dept. of Education's website included links to Superintendent Joy Hofmeister's social media pages promoting her campaign for governor. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 19, 2022 at 08:36AM

Humphrey asks Ethics Commission to investigate potential Hofmeister misuse of public funds Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Elon frees the Babylon Bee from Twitter jail

He did it. We're back. Let that sink in. — The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) November 18, 2022 Elon Musk is a nonreligious pagan with somewhat libertarian politics who appreciates and is a fan of the Christian-based satire published by the Babylon Bee. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 18, 2022 at 02:58PM

Elon frees the Babylon Bee from Twitter jail Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Stephens pushes for black vulture take limit increase

Stephens pushes for black vulture take limit increase OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 15th) – Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens, R-Tahlequah, is urging farmers and ranchers to report the number of black vultures killed on their property. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects black vultures, meaning Oklahomans can only take up to five birds a year with a sub-permit, but Stephens said this is a growing problem, and the current limits are no match for the rapidly expanding black vulture population. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 17, 2022 at 03:00PM

Stephens pushes for black vulture take limit increase Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Election Results Map: U.S. Senate, other statewide races

Earlier this week, I update my long-running Election Results Maps series with a post looking at the 2022 Oklahoma general election races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Superintendent. In this post, we'll cover the remaining statewide partisan races. Overall, it was a Republican romp. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 15, 2022 at 08:25AM

Election Results Map: U.S. Senate, other statewide races Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

State Sen. Stephens urges Oklahoma to “lock the clock”

Stephens urges Oklahoma to “lock the clock” OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah, continues to advocate for Daylight Saving Time (DST) to be the official year-round time in Oklahoma. Stephens has advocated for DST legislation since he was elected to the Senate in 2020. The Sunshine Protection Act was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate earlier this year and is awaiting consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by the president. If approved, DST would be able to become permanent across the nation, with many states already having legislation in place to be enacted upon the passage of the act. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 13, 2022 at 02:00PM

State Sen. Stephens urges Oklahoma to “lock the clock” Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Election Results Map: Gov, LtGov, and State Superintendent races

Here is the 2022 general election edition of my long-running Election Results Maps series.  For now, we'll look at the race for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Superintendent. I'll work on additional races as I find the time. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 12, 2022 at 06:59PM

Election Results Map: Gov, LtGov, and State Superintendent races Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

State Election Board Secretary celebrates smooth election operation

Secretary of State Election Board Releases Statement [Oklahoma City, OK || November 10th] The Secretary of the State Election Board released a statement today regarding the November 8 General Election and voter turnout. Statement from Secretary Paul Ziriax: "For election officials, the General Election is our Super Bowl. No election is perfect, but overall this one went pretty smoothly. I want to offer a big 'thank you' to all of the poll workers, county election board members and staff, State Election Board staff, and other election officials who worked very hard to ensure Oklahomans were able to vote in a free and fair election. I am very appreciative of our partner agencies who help us protect Oklahoma's election system and keep it secure. And I want to thank the voters who took time to exercise their right to vote." Additional Information about Oklahoma's 2022 General Election: Official pre-election voter registration showed 2,295,906 registered voters in Oklahoma. At the 2018 gubernatorial election, there were 2,120,843 registered voters. Preliminary, unofficial 2022 General Election results show turnout to be about 50.3% of registered voters. This compares to 56.15% of registered voters in 2018. Preliminary, unofficial 2022 General Election results show about 1.155 million ballots scanned – about 36,000 fewer than the nearly 1.191 million in 2018. Preliminary, unofficial 2022 General Election results show more than 480,000 voters marked "straight party" – 69.82% for Republicans, 29.08% for Democrats, and 1.10% for Libertarians. (Reminder: A vote for an individual candidate overrides a "straight party" mark.) Election Results are unofficial until certified. Any provisional ballots determined to be eligible will be counted by County Election Boards and added to the vote totals on Friday, November 11. County Election Boards meet on Friday, November 11 at 5PM to certify county-level election results. The State Election Board meets on Tuesday, November 15 at 5PM to certify results for federal and state races. by Jamison Faught - November 12, 2022 at 03:56PM

State Election Board Secretary celebrates smooth election operation Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Amber Integrated partnering with Decision Desk HQ on election results tracker

Amber Integrated, an Oklahoma City based public affairs firm that is a relative newcomer to the Oklahoma political polling stage, is partnering with Decision Desk HQ on election results tracking. DDHQ originated in 2012 as project of right-of-center blog Ace of Spades, and quickly became well-respected across the political spectrum for their accuracy and speed in reporting election results. From AI: If you are looking for a place where you can track national election results AND Oklahoma results in one place, look no further! We are proud to launch a new dashboard on our website, amberintegrated.com, in partnership with Decision Desk HQ, with live results and interactive graphics. You can access the dashboard through our home page, or go directly to the dashboard at the links below: Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 08, 2022 at 02:00PM

Amber Integrated partnering with Decision Desk HQ on election results tracker Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Election Day: Links and Resources

Today is the General Election. If you haven't voted yet, you have from 7:00am to 7:00pm to cast your ballots at your precinct polling location. If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out. Here are some links to various posts and additional resources about the candidates that you may find helpful. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 08, 2022 at 06:30AM

Election Day: Links and Resources Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Election Predictions: here's mine -- leave yours!

Here are my admittedly optimistic election predictions. Drop yours in the comments, or on the Muskogee Politico Facebook page. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 07, 2022 at 11:44PM

Election Predictions: here's mine -- leave yours! Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

OCPA column: State’s licensure boards declared a “time bomb”

State’s licensure boards declared a “time bomb” By Jonathan Small State licensure boards are an important, although often overlooked, component of job opportunity and economic growth. The boards control access to professions. If operated appropriately, they provide consumer protection while allowing the most qualified people possible to enter a profession, which increases competition and keeps prices down for consumers. But there’s reason to worry Oklahoma’s licensure boards have inherent flaws that not only stymie healthy industry competition, but also could be found illegal. One legislator compared the state’s licensure system to “sitting on a time bomb.” Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 06, 2022 at 01:47PM

OCPA column: State’s licensure boards declared a “time bomb” Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters

This information is very important for all registered voters, particularly since redistricting took effect this year: State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters (Oklahoma City || November 4th) – Voters head to the polls Tuesday for the General Election and several nonpartisan elections. The State Election Board offers these tips and reminders to Oklahoma voters ahead of the November 8 General Election. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 05, 2022 at 11:47AM

State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

State Election Board releases official pre-election voter registration statistics

State Election Board Releases Official Pre-Election Voter Registration Statistics (Oklahoma City) – Nearly 2.3 million Oklahomans are registered to vote ahead of the November 8 General Election, with a net increase of more than 77,000 registered voters since January 15 and a net increase of more than 175,000 registered voters since November 1, 2018. Oklahoma’s voter registration statistics show that registered Republicans now make up 51.19% of Oklahoma’s registered voters, while Democrats make up 29.95% of registered voters. Independents make up the third largest group of registered voters with 18%, while Libertarians continue to increase voter registration numbers with 0.86%. It is the first time that official voter registration statistics show Democrats at less than 30% of registered voters. As recently as 2014, Democrats were Oklahoma’s largest political party. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 02, 2022 at 10:53AM

State Election Board releases official pre-election voter registration statistics Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Emerson Poll: Stitt leads Hofmeister by 9%

The most recent poll of the Oklahoma gubernatorial race shows incumbent Republican Kevin Stitt pulling ahead of Democrat Joy Hofmeister. Several recent surveys had shown either a narrow Hofmeister lead or an essential tie.  Either way, this will be a close race, and every vote counts. Here's the Emerson College Polling results: Oklahoma 2022: Governor Stitt Leads Hofmeister by Nine; Economy is Determining Issue for Voters (October 31st, 2022) The latest Emerson College Polling survey of Oklahoma voters finds Republican Governor Kevin Stitt with 49% support for re-election, while 40% support Democrat Joy Hofmeister. Two percent support independent Ervin Stone Yen and 1% support ​​Libertarian Natalie Bruno. Eight percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, Stitt’s support increases to 52% and Hofmeister to 43%. Eighty-eight percent say they will definitely vote for their candidate, while 12% say there is a chance they could change their mind before Election Day.  Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, said: “Hofmeister is leading among Independent voters 43% to 33%, but that is not enough to make up for the Republican advantage in Oklahoma. Stitt leads among Republican voters 75% to 15%, who are expected to be about 52% of the total vote.”  Forty-nine percent of Oklahoma voters have a favorable view of Governor Stitt, while 47% have a negative view of him. Forty-three percent have a favorable view of Joy Hofmeister, while 47% have an unfavorable view of her. Eleven percent are unsure (8%) or have never heard of (3%) Hofmeister.  In the race for US Senate between incumbent Republican James Lankford and Democrat Madison Horn, 57% plan to support Senator Lankford and 33% support Horn. Eight percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, Lankford’s support increases to 62% and Horn to 34%.  In the special election for the US Senate, a majority of voters (56%) would vote for Republican Markwayne Mullin, while 35% support Democrat Kendra Horn. Five percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, Mullin’s support increases to 59% and Horn to 36%.  The economy is the most important issue for 43% of Oklahoma voters, followed by education (15%), and abortion access (11%).  Kimball noted, “For voters who say the economy is the top issue in determining their vote, 70% plan to vote for Stitt. By contrast, 71% of those who say education is their determining issue and 84% of those who say abortion access is their determining issue are voring for Hofmeister.” President Joe Biden holds a 65% disapproval among Oklahoma voters, while 27% approve of the job Biden is doing. In a hypothetical 2024 matchup between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, 59% of Oklahoma voters would support Trump and 30% Biden. Ten percent would vote for someone else.  [Full results can be downloaded in this .xlsx file from Emerson] Methodology The Emerson College Polling survey of Oklahoma voters was conducted October 25-28, 2022. The sample consisted of very likely voters, n=1,000, with a Credibility Interval (CI), similar to a poll’s margin of error (MOE) of +/- 3.02 percentage points. The data sets were weighted by gender, age, party registration, education, region, and race/ethnicity based on 2022 turnout modeling. It is important to remember that subsets based on gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity carry with them higher margins of error, as the sample size is reduced. Data was collected using cell phones via SMS-to-web, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system of landlines, and an online panel. by Jamison Faught - November 02, 2022 at 08:10AM

Emerson Poll: Stitt leads Hofmeister by 9% Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Protecting Americans Action Fund airs TV ad supporting Kevin Calvey for DA

PAAF Releases TV Ad Supporting Kevin Calvey Arlington, VA (October 31st) – With crime rising and one of the top issues on voters' minds, today, Protecting Americans Action Fund (PAAF) released a television ad supporting Kevin Calvey for Oklahoma County District Attorney. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 01, 2022 at 01:08PM

Protecting Americans Action Fund airs TV ad supporting Kevin Calvey for DA Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

OCPA column: Sound the alarm on Oklahoma’s academic results

Sound the alarm on Oklahoma’s academic results By Jonathan Small Oklahoma’s 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test results show Oklahoma’s academic outcomes have plummeted, have fallen far faster than most states, and are at levels below nearly all states. Oklahoma’s NAEP score for fourth-grade reading was on a strong upswing and was actually above the national average in 2015, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister’s first year in office. It’s been downhill ever since. Today, only three states do worse. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 01, 2022 at 10:51AM

OCPA column: Sound the alarm on Oklahoma’s academic results Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Election Board encourages absentee voters to mail ballots ASAP

Voters Encouraged to Mail Absentee Ballots as Soon as Possible (Oklahoma City, October 31st) – The Secretary of the State Election Board is encouraging voters who have requested absentee ballots to mail those ballots back as soon as possible to ensure they are received by their County Election Board before the deadline. “While our county election boards work closely with local post offices to ensure that every mail ballot makes it into the hands of election officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day, we encourage voters to follow United States postal guidelines and mail ballots at least seven days prior to the election.” said Secretary Paul Ziriax. “Voters should consider the amount of time needed to vote their ballot, as well as the distance the ballot has to travel,” he added. Read more » by Jamison Faught - November 01, 2022 at 08:07AM

Election Board encourages absentee voters to mail ballots ASAP Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico