Three Tulsa area Republicans – Sen. Nathan Dahm, Rep. Tom Gann and Rep. Wendi Stearman – are among the most conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature and six Tulsa Democrats – Sen. Joanna Dossett plus Representatives Regina Goodwin, Meloyde Blancett, Monroe Nichols, John Waldron and Melissa Provenzano – are the most liberal.
That’s according to the 43rd Annual Oklahoma Conservative Index by the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper and members of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC).
“An astonishing 18 legislators scored zero conservative this year, taking the liberal position on all ten bills included on this year’s ratings,” according to the Oklahoma Constitution website. “This is the largest number to score zero in all of the years that we have rated the legislators.”
Lawmakers are scored on their votes on 10 key conservative bills in the 2021 legislative session. A conservative vote earns 10 points. If a lawmaker is absent from a vote, they are given three points.
The average score this year was 63% in the House and 66% in the Senate.
Five legislators scored a perfect 100% conservative rating this year. Dahm was the only member of the Senate with a perfect score. The four members of the House with a perfect score were Gann, Stearman, Denise Crosswhite Hader of Yukon and Jim Olsen of Roland.
Eleven members of the House scored 90% including Steve Bashore of Miami, Brad Boles of Marlow, Jim Gego of Wilburton, Tommy Hardin of Madill, Gerrid Kendrix of Altus, Kenton Patzkowsky of Balko, Eric Roberts of Oklahoma City, Jay Steagall of Yukon, Kevin West of Moore, Rick West of Heavener, and Danny Williams of Seminole.
Joanna Dossett, Provenzano, Goodwin, Blancett, Nichols and Waldron had zero conservative votes.
Brewer only got 12 points because she missed four votes. Likewise, Goodwin got six points for missing two votes.
The highest ranking Democrat around Tulsa was Sen. J.J. Dossett of Sperry who had three of 10 conservative votes and was absent for one vote.
Five members of the Senate scored zero including JoAnna Dossett, Senate Minority (Democrat) Leader Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City, Carri Hicks of Oklahoma City, Julia Kirt of Oklahoma City, and George Young of Oklahoma City.
The 13 members of the House who scored zero include Forrest Bennett of Oklahoma City, Blancett, Jose Cruz of Oklahoma City, Andy Fugate of Del City, Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City, Nichols, Provenzano, Trish Ranson of Stillwater, Jacob Rosecrants of Norman, Mauree Turner of Oklahoma City, Emily Virgin of Norman, Waldron, and Collin Walke of Oklahoma City.
After taking suggestions from conservative leaders, proposed bills were reviewed by a joint committee composed of the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper staff and members of OCPAC. The committee then selected the ten key votes.
Here are those votes:
Top Conservatives
(2021 score/career average)
Tulsa area senators
| 100/99 | Nathan Dahm | R-Broken Arrow |
| 90/90 | Cody Rogers | R-Tulsa |
| 80/77 | John Haste | R-Broken Arrow |
| 80/76 | Joe Newhouse | R-Broken Arrow |
| 80/73 | Julie Daniels | R-Bartlesville |
| 80/62 | Kim David | R-Porter |
| 70/54 | Dave Rader | R-Tulsa |
| 33/42 | J.J. Dossett | D-Sperry |
| 9/21 | Kevin Matthews | D-Tulsa |
| 0/0 | Joanna Dossett | D-Tulsa |
Tulsa area representatives
| 100/100 | Wendi Stearman | R-Collinsville |
| 100/92 | Tom Gann | R-Inola |
| 83/68 | Stan May | R-Broken Arrow |
| 80/77 | Dean Davis | R-Broken Arrow |
| 80/73 | Jeff Boatman | R-Inola |
| 80/71 | T.J. Marti | R-Broken Arrow |
| 80/68 | Sheila Dills | R-Tulsa |
| 80/66 | Mark Lepak | R-Claremore |
| 80/62 | Terry O’Donnell | R-Catoosa |
| 80/60 | Mark Lawson | R-Sapulpa |
| 80/58 | Kevin McDugle | R-Broken Arrow |
| 80/54 | Jadine Nollan | R-Sand Springs |
| 73/58 | Ross Ford | R-Broken Arrow |
| 70/70 | Mark Vancuren | R-Owasso |
| 70/67 | Lonnie Sims | R-Jenks |
| 56/34 | Carol Bush | R-Tulsa |
| 12/12 | Denise Brewer | D-Tulsa |
| 6/20 | Regina Goodwin | D-Tulsa |
| 0/12 | Meloyde Blancett | D-Tulsa |
| 0/11 | Monroe Nichols | D-Tulsa |
| 0/5 | John Waldron | D-Tulsa |
| 0/3 | Melissa Provenzano | D-Tulsa |
Votes
(1) 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State
Senate Bill 631 by Sen. Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain) and Rep. Sean Roberts (R-Hominy)
(2) Abortion Doctor Medical Licensure
House Bill 1102 by Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland) and Senator Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville)
(3) Critical Race Theory Training
House Bill 1775 by Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore) and Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant)
(4) School COVID-19 Requirements
Senate Bill 658 by Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman) and Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore)
(5) Equal Opportunity Scholarships
Senate Bill 1080 by Sen. Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) and House Speaker Charles McCall (R-Atoka)
(6) Protecting Drivers Escaping Riots
House Bill 1674 by Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore) and Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman)
(7) Closure of Places of Worship
House Bill 2648 by Rep. Brian Hill (R-Mustang) and Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant)
(8) Film Production Subsidies
Senate Bill 608 by Sen. Chuck Hall (R-Perry) and Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee)
(9) Increase State Bond Debt
House Bill 2896 by Rep. Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston) and Sen. Roger Thompson (R-Okemah)
(10) Corporate Tax Rate Reduction
House Bill 2960 by House Speaker Charles McCall (R-Atoka) and Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City)