Sen. Nathan Dahm, Rep. Tom Gann and Rep. Terry O’Donnell are among the most conservative legislators in the state, according to the 2020 Conservative Index from the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper.

Rep. Meloyde Blancett, Rep. Melissa Provenzano and Rep. Monroe Nichols are markedly the most liberal lawmakers from the Tulsa area.

Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, was the only lawmaker in the state to score a perfect 100. Dahm, a champion for conservative values, has a career average of 99 – the best in the state.  Gann, R-Inola, scored 90 points and has a career average of 90. O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, scored 90 points in 2020 after posting a career average of only 60 points.

Gann and O’Donnell each had 9 conservative votes. They both voted no on Senate Bill 1717.

Nichols, D-Tulsa, got only 6 points out of 100. His career average is 14. Blancett, D-Tulsa, and Provenzano, D-Tulsa, both scored 10 points out of 100. Blancett’s career average is 15 points and Provenzano, who is in her first term, averaged only 5 point on the conservative index for her career.

The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper solicits bills from lawmakers and conservative groups to base the ratings and selects 10 to use for the final ballot (see list). This was the 42nd annual listing.

The staff of the Oklahoma Constitution submitted proposed bills to a vote of the membership of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC) to determine the ten key votes. The issues included preserving secure elections, protecting privacy, protecting the right to keep and bear arms, obstructing overbearing government regulations, against subsidies, and protecting life. (See list on Page 3).

Sen. Casey Murdock of Felt, scored 93 percent. Nine House members scored 90% including Gann, O’Donnell, Rusty Cornwell of Vinita, Mark Lepak of Claremore, Jim Olsen of Roland, Todd Russ of Cordell, David Smith of McAlester, Zack Taylor of Seminole, and Kevin West of Moore.

Two legislators scored zero conservative this year – Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City, the Senate Minority (Democrat) Leader, scored zero. In the House, Trish Ranson of Stillwater also scored zero.

Two members of the House scored 6% this year, Nickols and  Jason Dunnington of Oklahoma City.

 Five legislators, three in the Senate and two in the House scored 10 percent. Senators scoring 10% were Carri Hicks of Oklahoma City, Julia Kirt of Oklahoma City, and Kevin Matthews of Tulsa.

House members scoring 10% are Blancett, Provenzano,  Goodwin, Ben Loring of Miami, Jacob Rosecrants of Norman, and John Waldron of Tulsa scored 13 percent.

Provenzano and Blancett had liberal votes on nine bill and the only conservative vote was on Senate Bill 1717. Goodwin had eight liberal votes, one conservative vote (House Bill 2743) and one missed vote.

Provenzano will face Republican Margie Alfonso, winner of the August 25th primary against Clay Iiams. O’Donnell faces Democrat Susan Young in on the November 3 ballot.

Blancett will face Republican challenger Paul Royse on November 3.

For more information, go to www.oklahomaconstitution.com

Conservative Index Bills

 1. Senate Bill 210 by Sen. Greg Treat

This bill maintains the requirement for notarizing absentee ballots, with the exception being during a declared state of emergency. Yes is a conservative vote.

2. House Bill 3613 by Rep. Terry O’Donnell

This would prevent state agencies from collecting certain personal information about donations or affiliations to private groups. Yes is a conservative vote.

3. Senate Bill 1081 by Sen. Nathan Dahm

This nullifies any federal red flag laws that seek to confiscate firearms in Oklahoma. Yes is a conservative vote.

4. House Bill 2743 by Rep. Kevin Wallace

This diverted $180,000,000 in designated highway funds to the Education Reform Revolving Fund. No is a conservative vote.

5. House Bill 3967 by Rep. Mark McBride

This states that the State of Oklahoma will not do business with companies that advocate a boycott of the Nation Israel, one of America’s strongest allies. Yes is a conservative vote.

6. House Bill 2587 by Rep. Sean Roberts

This forbids state agencies from judging the quality of life value of medical care for people, especially seniors. Yes is a conservative vote.

7. House Bill 2760 by Rep. Kevin Wallace

This reduces the annual cap on Affordable Housing Credits form $4,000 to $2,000. Yes is a conservative vote.

8. Senate Bill 1717 by Sen. Adam Pugh

This lets home-based bakeries and not a state agency determine when they expand into a commercial property. Previous law forced them to move when their gross income reached $20,000 a year. Yes is a conservative vote.

9. House Bill 2791 by Rep. Ross Ford

This mandates seat belt use by anyone under 18 in the back seat of a car. The current law is for anyone under the age of 8. The bill failed. No is a conservative vote. (Senate Bill 1303 by Sen. Roland Pederson and Ford would require passengers under the age of 17 in a back seat to wear a seat belt. It was killed in the House.)

10. House Bill 1182 by Rep. Jim Olsen

This bill would revoke the state license of any physician who commits an abortion. The only exception was to save the life of the mother. The bill died in the Senate. Yes is a conservative vote. (Senate Bill 13 by Sen. Joe Silk would have declared abortion illegal in the state. It was killed before even a vote in a Senate committee.)

Oklahoma Conservative Index 2020

Tulsa House Members

Tulsa Senate Members