Oklahoma Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma
political party
affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party
, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.
The Oklahoma Democratic Party describes itself as neither liberal
or conservative
, but "squarely in the center
of the political spectrum."
The party mission statement goes on to say:
The party has dominated local politics in Oklahoma almost since the days of early statehood in 1907. In national politics, the party became a dominant force beginning with the presidential election of 1932
and the Franklin D. Roosevelt
political re-alignment. Since 1932, the majority of members of Congress from Oklahoma have been Democrats, and of the 26 men who have been elected to the office of Governor of Oklahoma
, 22 have been Democrats.
However, the party has fared poorly since 1994. Democrats lost all six Congressional races that year and since then have only won a single seat back. In response, the traditionally disorganized Oklahoma Democrats have taken steps to create a more organized state party, hiring a professional executive director in 1995. Even so, Democrats continued to lose ground in the 2000s, losing control of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives
and the Oklahoma Senate
. In 2008, Oklahoma gave the lowest percentage of any state's vote to national Democrat Barack Obama
in the presidential election.
Upon statehood, all but one of the Congressional seats was held by Democrats. The Democrats won eighteen of the twenty-one gubernatorial eletions since its statehood in 1907. The Democratic Party held on average 81 perecne of the seats in the state legislature between 1907 and 1973. With the onset of the Great Depression
, the party gained even more influence for several decades.
Since the 1980s the party has seen a decline as Christian fundamentalists have shifted to the Republican Party. The Democrat Party has not not attained more than 41 percent of the vote for president. As of 2000 about 55 percentof Oklahoma voters registred as Democrats. The party continues to decline in strength in both the Oklahoma Legislature
and executive branch. For the first time since statehood, Republicans hold all statewide-elected offices starting in 2011.
Legislative leadership
Staff:
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party
Oklahoma Republican Party
The Oklahoma Republican Party is a political party affiliated with the United States Republican Party . Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.-Voter base:...
, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.
The Oklahoma Democratic Party describes itself as neither liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
or conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
, but "squarely in the center
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
of the political spectrum."
The party mission statement goes on to say:
Unlike the far leftFar leftFar left, also known as the revolutionary left, radical left and extreme left are terms which refer to the highest degree of leftist positions among left-wing politics...
, we know that less government is sometimes a better government, and that government cannot solve every difficulty faced by our society. But, unlike the far rightFar rightFar-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
, we understand there is a role for government to play in finding solutions to our country's problems.
The party has dominated local politics in Oklahoma almost since the days of early statehood in 1907. In national politics, the party became a dominant force beginning with the presidential election of 1932
United States presidential election, 1932
The United States presidential election of 1932 took place as the effects of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, the Revenue Act of 1932, and the Great Depression were being felt intensely across the country. President Herbert Hoover's popularity was falling as...
and the Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
political re-alignment. Since 1932, the majority of members of Congress from Oklahoma have been Democrats, and of the 26 men who have been elected to the office of Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, 22 have been Democrats.
However, the party has fared poorly since 1994. Democrats lost all six Congressional races that year and since then have only won a single seat back. In response, the traditionally disorganized Oklahoma Democrats have taken steps to create a more organized state party, hiring a professional executive director in 1995. Even so, Democrats continued to lose ground in the 2000s, losing control of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
and the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
. In 2008, Oklahoma gave the lowest percentage of any state's vote to national Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in the presidential election.
History
The Oklahoma Democratic Party dominated state politics for much of Oklahoma history, with its strength in greatest concentrations in the southeastern part of the state, known as "Little Dixie" because of the post-Reconstruction migration of people from southern states such as Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas.Upon statehood, all but one of the Congressional seats was held by Democrats. The Democrats won eighteen of the twenty-one gubernatorial eletions since its statehood in 1907. The Democratic Party held on average 81 perecne of the seats in the state legislature between 1907 and 1973. With the onset of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the party gained even more influence for several decades.
Since the 1980s the party has seen a decline as Christian fundamentalists have shifted to the Republican Party. The Democrat Party has not not attained more than 41 percent of the vote for president. As of 2000 about 55 percentof Oklahoma voters registred as Democrats. The party continues to decline in strength in both the Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
and executive branch. For the first time since statehood, Republicans hold all statewide-elected offices starting in 2011.
Headquarters and leadership
The Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters are located at the George Krumme Center, 4100 North Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City. Wallace Collins is the chair. Dana Orwig, who was defeated by Collins for the chair position, was elected vice chair. Jim Frasier and Betty McElderry are members of the Democratic National Committee. The executive officers are elected at biennial state conventions in May of odd-numbered years. The elected DNC committee delegates serve four-year terms concurrent with presidential elections.2011 Oklahoma Democratic Party State Convention
The Oklahoma Democratic Party held their State Convention on May 14, 2011 to address multiple issues and to seek resolutions. The purpose of the meetting was to elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurere of the Oklahoma Democratic Party for a two year term of office. The committee also elected fourst state Affirmative Action Committee (two men and two women); to consider proposed amendments to the Oklahoma Democrat Party Constitution and Bylaws; to consider resoultions.Famous Oklahoma Democrats
- Governor William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray
- Governor Robert S. KerrRobert S. KerrRobert Samuel Kerr was an American businessman from Oklahoma. Kerr formed a petroleum company before turning to politics. He served as the 12th Governor of Oklahoma and was elected three times to the United States Senate...
- Governor J. Howard EdmondsonJ. Howard EdmondsonJames Howard Edmondson was the 16th Governor of Oklahoma from 1959 to 1963. Elected at the age of 33, Edmondson is the youngest governor in the history of the state.- Biography :...
- Governor George NighGeorge NighGeorge Patterson Nigh , is a popular civic leader in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd Governor of Oklahoma. He was the first Oklahoma Governor to be re-elected and the first to win all 77 counties in the state...
- Governor David L. BorenDavid L. BorenDavid Lyle Boren is an academic leader and American politician from the state of Oklahoma. A Democrat, he served as the 21st Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1979 and in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1994. He is currently president of the University of Oklahoma. He was the longest serving...
- U.S. Senator Thomas P. Gore
- U.S. Senator Robert S. KerrRobert S. KerrRobert Samuel Kerr was an American businessman from Oklahoma. Kerr formed a petroleum company before turning to politics. He served as the 12th Governor of Oklahoma and was elected three times to the United States Senate...
- U.S. Senator Fred Harris
- U.S. Senator David L. BorenDavid L. BorenDavid Lyle Boren is an academic leader and American politician from the state of Oklahoma. A Democrat, he served as the 21st Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1979 and in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1994. He is currently president of the University of Oklahoma. He was the longest serving...
- U.S. House Speaker Carl AlbertCarl AlbertCarl Bert Albert was a lawyer and a Democratic American politician from Oklahoma.Albert represented the southeastern portion of Oklahoma as a Democrat for 30 years, starting in 1947. He is best known for his service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977...
- Entertainer Will RogersWill RogersWilliam "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
Current elected officials
The Oklahoma Democratic Party holds none of the statewide offices, no majority in either state legislative chamber, neither of the state's U.S. Senate seats, but holds one of the state's U.S. House seats.Legislative leadershipOklahoma LegislatureThe Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
- Senate Minority LeaderOklahoma SenateThe Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
: Andrew RiceAndrew RiceAndrew Monroe Rice is an American politician from Oklahoma currently representing Senate District 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate. He resigned from his Senate seat effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.-Early life:Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Rice... - House Minority LeaderOklahoma House of RepresentativesThe Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
: Scott InmanScott Inman (Oklahoma politician)Scott Inman is a Democratic politician from U.S. state of Oklahoma. He serves in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Minority Leaderand District 94 State Representative...
Officers and staff
Officers:- Chair, Wallace Collins
- Vice Chair, Danna Orwig
- Secretary, Dave Ratcliff
- Treasuer, Donna Russell
Staff:
- Interm Executive Director, Trav Roberston
- IT Director, David Scott
- Staff, Christine Byrd
Central Committee
- DNC National Committee Member, Jim Frasier
- DNC National Committee Member, Betty McElderry
- Congressional Delegation Member, Hon. Dan Boren
- State House Delegation Member, Jerry McPeak
Woodward County
- Chair, Tommy Wayne Matthews
- Vice-Chair, Emmy Elizabeth Irving
- Secretary, Roberta Gilbert
See also
- Politics of OklahomaPolitics of OklahomaPolitics of Oklahoma takes place in a framework of a presidential republic modeled after the United States, whereby the Governor of Oklahoma is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform two-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Governor and the government...
- U.S. Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
- Oklahoma Republican PartyOklahoma Republican PartyThe Oklahoma Republican Party is a political party affiliated with the United States Republican Party . Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.-Voter base:...