8A SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018 THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.

COM

GOVERNOR’S RACE

Gubernatorial candidates line up for big race

Democrats will choose is more likely to talk about
his legislative experience in
Dissatisfaction
state government reached
with weeks he should have been
spending the most. CAMPAIGN
MONEY
nominee, Republicans areas like criminal justice
reform and school security.
Lamb has the support
well beyond the Legisla-
ture into Fallin’s office, and
some Republican primary
Jones, the state auditor,
wastheonlytopRepublican
candidate to support tax
(Through June 11)

expected to narrow field of the Oklahoma Farm

BY CHRIS CASTEEL
Staff Writer
ccasteel@oklahoman.com
Two Republicans are
expected to advance on
Tuesday from the crowded
field of candidates for gov-
ernor, with Lt. Gov. Todd
Lamb, Tulsa business-
man Kevin Stitt and for-
mer Oklahoma City Mayor
Mick Cornett the favorites.
The three have been
crisscrossing the state for
a year arguing that their
experience is most suited
for managing a state strug-
gling to provide quality
services.
Ten Republicans filed to
run for governor, and six
of those — Lamb, Cornett,
Stitt, Dan Fisher, Gary
Richardson and Auditor
and Inspector Gary Jones—
have been campaigning
since sometime in 2017.
Gov. Mary Fallin, who
has been in office since
January 2011, can’t run
for re-election because of
term limits.
With ten people on the
primary ballot, the two
GOP candidates who
advance to the Aug. 28
runoff will most likely do so
garnering less than 30 per-
cent each of the vote.
Democrats will pick their
nominee for governor on
Tuesday between former
Oklahoma Attorney Gen-
eral Drew Edmondson and
former state Sen. Connie
Johnson.
The Libertarian Party
is holding its first guber-
natorial primary and may
also need a runoff to pick a
nominee from among Joe
Exotic, Chris Powell and
Rex Lawhorn.
Independent voters may
cast ballots in the Demo-
cratic primary.
Republican and Liber-
tarian primaries are open
only to voters registered
with the respective parties.
Todd Lamb
Lamb, 46, has spent
almost eight years as lieu-
tenant governor. He was a
state senator from Okla-
homa City before that and
an aide to former Gov.
Frank Keating in the 1990s.
Reflecting voter senti-
ment about the state Capi-
tol, Lamb’s broadcast ads
and direct mail ignore the
many years he has spent
there and direct attention
instead to the four years
he spent in the U.S. Secret
Service from 1998 to 2002.
In forums and other per-
sonal appearances, Lamb
Bureau and the oil and gas
industry.
It was a coup for Lamb
to get Donald Trump Jr. to
attend an Oklahoma City
fundraiser for him in May,
but he still finished well
behind Stitt and Cornett in
donations from individuals
in the last few weeks.
Mick Cornett
Cornett, 59, is a famil-
iar face in the state’s larg-
est metro area. He served
16 years as mayor before
stepping down in April.
He was a city councilman
and a longtime television
sports reporter and anchor
in Oklahoma City.
Cornett’s strategy has
been to portray himself as
a budget-balancing, job-
creating machine rather
than as chief pitchman for
the capital city, which is
more descriptive of his role
in a weak mayor system.
Still, Cornett can claim
a role in the renaissance of
Oklahoma City’s down-
town and in its reputation
for being managed effi-
ciently and with little con-
flict.
Kevin Stitt
Stitt, 45, may have
picked the perfect year to
run an outsider campaign.
voters are obviously look-
ing for a candidate who
hasn’t been in government
for the last two decades.
Because of that voter
discontent and his abil-
ity to write big checks to
his campaign, Stitt went
from complete unknown to
credible contender for the
nomination.
The founder and CEO
of Gateway Mortgage
Group, based in the Tulsa
area, Stitt starts most of
his speeches by saying he
started his company with
$1,000 and a computer.
Stitt developed some
familiarity with the struc-
ture of state government
and decided that the chief
executive should be able to
exert more control.
But the theme of his
campaign, and its most
oft-repeated line, was that
the politicians who got the
state into a mess were not
the ones to get the state out
of it.
Other candidates
Richardson, who ran for
governor as an indepen-
dent in 2002, was the first
to make agency audits a
centerpiece of his cam-
paign. But he failed to gain
traction with his com-
plaints about turnpikes
and illegal immigrants and
ran out of money in the
hikes, a risky bet in a GOP
primary in a conservative
state. The most knowl-
edgeable candidate about
state finances, Jones could
talkaboutsolutionstomany
budget issues. What he
couldn’t do was find people
to give him the money nec-
essary to compete.
Fisher, a Yukon pas-
tor, has a loyal following of
people who want to abol-
ish all abortions, and he
will get substantial support
on Tuesday. Fisher, a for-
mer state legislator, spoke
about other issues, but
his campaign was focused
mainly on abortion.
Democratic side
On the Democratic side,
Edmondson is favored
over Johnson, owing to
his statewide name recog-
nition and huge financial
advantage.
Edmondson, 71, won
four statewide races for
attorney general, serving
from 1995 through 2010.
He narrowly lost the race
for the Democratic nomi-
nation for governor in
2010.
Johnson,65,represented
an Oklahoma City district
in the state Senate from
2005 through 2014. John-
son is in the mainstream of
a party that gave U.S. Sen.
Bernie Sanders a victory in
• Mick Cornett:
Raised $1.9 million;
Spent $1.6 million
• Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb:
Raised $3.7 million
(includes $1 mil-
lion transfer from
previous campaign);
Spent: $2.9 million
• Kevin Stitt: Raised
$4.2 million (includes
$2.2 million in per-
sonal loans); Spent:
$3.8 million
• Gary Richardson:
Raised: $1.25 million
(includes $1 million
in personal loans);
Spent: $1.23 million
Auditor and Inspector
• Gary Jones: Raised
$89,000; Spent:
$68,000
• Dan Fisher: Raised:
$332,000 (includes
$20,000 in personal
loans); Spent:
$277,000
• Drew Edmondson:
Raised: $1.5 million
(includes $60,000
in personal loans);
Spent: $1 million
• Connie Johnson:
Raised $68,000:
Spent: $63,000
the 2016 Democratic pres-
idential primary. But she
raised only about $70,000,
while Edmondson raised
more than $1.4 million.

2018 Governor candidate chart

CRIMINAL
TAXES EDUCATION GOVERNMENT JUSTICE MEDICAID GUNS
Said he is glad Gov. Supports teacher Supports agency au- Wants to focus on Opposes Medicaid Would sign constitu-
Mary Fallin signed pay raises. Opposed dits. Believes consti- reducing rate of former expansion. tional carry legisla-
the $475 million tax teacher walkout in tutional changes may inmates committing tion.
package approved by April. Wants emphasis be needed to increase new crimes. Supports
Legislature in March. on science, technology accountability of some death penalty.
and math. agency directors.
Mick Cornett
59, Republican

Wants higher taxes on Wants higher teacher Wants more account- Wants more drug, alco- Supports expanding Says raising age to
oil and gas production pay and enough money ability to prevent hol and mental health Medicaid and says it is 21 for purchasing
and cigarettes. Wants for base budget to re- another Health treatment regardless the first thing he will AR-15, a semi-auto-
to repeal capital gains store reforms in House Department scandal. of ability to pay. Says pursue as governor. matic rifle, should
tax deduction. Bill 1017 (approved in Says people appointed district attorneys have be considered. On
1990), including class to any government become too reliant on constitutional carry,
size reductions. agency, board or fees garnered from says he would prefer
Drew Edmondson commission must take prosecution. Supports people carrying a
71, Democrat seriously their duties. death penalty. weapon have train-
ing and permit.

Opposes tax increases. Supports teacher pay Says growth in bu- Says non-violent Opposes Medicaid Would sign constitu-
Would not have signed raises. Opposed teach- reaucracy has made offenders should pay expansion. tional carry bill.
tax bill. er walkout. Believes agencies unmanage- restitution, not be
administrative costs able; has echoed calls locked up with violent
consume too much. for audits. criminals.
Wants “moral instruc-
Dan Fisher tion” in schools.
58, Republican

Wants higher taxes on Wants principles Says she would in- Opposes mandato- Supports Medicaid Says Legislature
oil and gas production. of House Bill 1017 crease public account- ry sentence. Wants expansion. must do thorough
Legalization of mar- reinstated, including ability by calling out more drug treatment vetting of the
ijuana to create new funding requirements, other public officials alternatives. Opposes potential impact of
tax revenue. reductions in class for the special interest death penalty. passing constitution-
sizes. Would make money they receive. al carry bill.
two-year college and
Connie Johnson career tech programs
65, Democrat free for all residents.

Developed a tax pack- Supports teacher pay Wants an indepen- Says state should Opposes Medicaid Would sign constitu-
age like the one later raises. Said he under- dent budget office to invest in more drug expansion. tional carry legisla-
approved by Legis- stood teacher walkout. provide nonpartisan and alcohol treatment tion.
lature. Would have Says students who spending and revenue and job training for
signed the package don’t plan to attend numbers to governor inmates.
that became law. Says college should be and Legislature. Says
it should be tougher encouraged to choose agencies must hire
for lawmakers to cut career path and get professionals, not
State Auditor
taxes. vocational training. political friends.
Gary Jones
63, Republican

Opposes tax increases. Supports teacher Wants Legislature to Wants treatment Opposes expansion. Would sign constitu-
Would not have signed pay raises. Opposed devote most of annual options used more for Believes too many tional carry bill.
the tax package. walkout. Wants 65 session to budget and women convicted on people are on Medic-
percent of education start each agency at drug charges and a aid in Oklahoma.
money spent in class- zero. reduction in non-vio-
room. Wants renewed lent offenders impris-
emphasis on 3rd-grade oned. Supports death
Lieutenant Governor
reading and math. penalty.
Todd Lamb
46, Republican

Opposes tax increases. Supports teacher pay First to call for audit of Wants sentencing Opposes expansion. Would sign constitu-
Would not have signed raises using money every agency. Wants reform, with more Claims audit of state tional carry legisla-
tax bill. from the state Land Of- to abolish turnpikes, treatment available program would find tion.
fice. Called for teacher make the roads toll- for mentally ill and thousands of ineligible
walkout to end after free. drug-related offend- people on the rolls.
fifth day. ers. Supports death
penalty.
Gary Richardson
77, Republican

Opposes tax increases Wants teachers paid Would post all state Wants fair and more Opposes Medicaid Would sign constitu-
but wants broad look the regional average. spending online. uniform sentencing expansion, wants tional carry bill.
at tax reform. Would Opposed teacher Audits for all agencies. across counties for examination of state
not have signed tax walkout. Wants school Wants governor to non-violent offenders, Medicaid program.
package. boards to have more have more power to more treatment and
flexibility in spending hire and fire agency training. Supports
local money. heads. death penalty.
Kevin Stitt
45, Republican