Once again, the Tulsa area has some of the most conservative legislators and some of the most liberal lawmakers in the Oklahoma Legislature.
Statewide, five legislators – Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee; Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola; Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland; Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville; and Rep. Rick West R-Heavener, all got 100% conservative ratings.
Right behind them, Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, got 93% and Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, scored 90%. Dahm has a career average of 99% and just missed 100% this session due to an unavoidable absence. Lawmakers get 10 points for each conservative vote but only three points if they miss a vote.
Five Tulsa area Republican senators – Dahm, Joe Newhouse, Tulsa (80%); John Haste, Broken Arrow (70%); Dwayne Pemberton, Muskogee (70%) and Dave Rader, Tulsa $70%) – scored 70% or above.
Six state representatives around Tulsa – Gann, Inola (100%); Wendi Sparkman, Collinsville (100%); Mark Lapak, Claremore (73%); Ross Ford, Broken Arrow (70%); Kevin McDougal, Broken Arrow (70%); and Mark Vancuren, Owasso (70%) – all scored 70% or more.
Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, was the lowest Republican in this area with 35 points.
Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, had the lowest score in the state and was the top liberal. He got 6 points because he missed two votes.
Rep. Collin Walke, D-Oklahoma City, scored 9 percent.
Rep. John Waldren, D-Tulsa (10%) , and Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa (10%), had the lowest scores in Tulsa but Rep. Regina Goodwin (13%), D-Tulsa, and Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa (13%), were close behind. Rep. Denise Brewer, D-Tulsa (24%) and Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa (23%), were among the most liberal lawmakers.
During her career, Provenzano has an average score of 8%. Waldron’s career average is 6%, Nichols is 11%, and Blancett’s is 12%.
Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Sperry, led Democrats with a score of 73% while his relative, Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, had a score of 20%. Jo Anna Dossett has a career average of 10%
This is the 44th time the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper has published the annual Conservative Index.
Conservative leaders are asked to recommend the votes on the index and then the proposed bills are reviewed by a joint committee composed of the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper staff and members of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC).
The 10 votes were:
- The abortion ban trigger law
This bans abortion when Roe v. Wade was overturned – yes vote.
- Saving women’s sports
This keeps biological males from competing against girls – yes vote.
- Biological women’s restrooms
This requires proper marking and us of restrooms – yes vote.
- Protecting firearms entities
This prevents discrimination against firearm manufacturers – yes vote.
- Online absentee ballot voter ID
This adds requirements to online absentee ballot requests – yes vote.
- Private funding of elections
This requires elections to be publicly funded – yes vote.
- Commercial air services grants
This would grants to private airlines – no vote.
- Inappropriate student materials
This is a hedge against pornography in schools – yes vote.
- Open records acts exemption
This would shield college non-profits from public inspections – no vote.
- Capitol tunnel repair bond debt – no vote.
This is borrowing money while there is tens of millions in the Rainy Day fund.
The Oklahoma Conservative Index is published by the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper with the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC). The website is www.oklahomaconstitution.com.
House
Tulsa Area Republicans
- 100 Tom Gann
- 100 Wendi Stearman
- 73 Mark Lapak
- 70 Ross Ford
- 70 Kevin McDugle
- 70 Mark Vancuren
- 69 Avery Frix
- 69 T.J. Marti
- 66 Dean Davis
- 66 Terry O’Donnell
- 63 Jeff Boatman
- 63 Stan May
- 63 Jadine Nollan
- 63 Lonnie Sims
- 59 Mark Lawson
- 51 Sheila Dills
- 35 Carol Bush
Tulsa Area Democrats
- 24 Denise Brewer
- 23 Melissa Provenzano
- 13 Regina Goodwin
- 13 Monroe Nichols
- 10 Meloyde Blancett
- 10 John Waldren
Senate
Tulsa Area Republicans
- 93 Nathan Dahm
- 80 Joe Newhouse
- 70 John Haste
- 70 Dwayne Pemberton
- 70 Dave Rader
- 63 Cody Rogers
- 56 Marty Quinn
Tulsa Area Democrats
- 73 J.J. Dossett
- 20 Jo Anna Dossett
- 6 Kevin Matthews