Republican candidates speak at forum in Del City
DEL CITY — Republican candidates hoping to challenge U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn next year stressed immigration, abortion, guns and jobs on Friday at a GOP forum held 11 months before the 2020 primaries.
“Unity is our word for 2020,'' DeWayne McAnally, 5th District chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party, told more than 100 people gathered at the community center for food, music and brief speeches from five congressional candidates.
“It doesn't matter who wins what election, we're going to be for the winner of those elections and we're going to go and defeat the enemy by having unity,” he said.
Republicans statewide have made regaining the 5th District congressional seat the top priority after losing it in a huge upset last year to Horn, an Oklahoma City Democrat. Horn defeated two-term Republican Steve Russell in the district, which includes most of Oklahoma County and Pottawatomie and Seminole counties.
“Kendra Horn does not support our conservative values,” said state Sen. Stephanie
Bice, an Oklahoma City Republican running for the GOP nomination.
Bice spent part of her allotted time defending her votes last year for a $ 447 million tax package that raised taxes on oil and gas production, cigarettes and motor fuel. The revenue went primarily to teacher raises.
“Some have taken issue with a few of my votes, but I know we can't all agree 100% of the time,” she said.
“But If ought to protect Oklahoma taxpayers from property tax, sales tax and income tax increases. … When you're faced with a crisis, you have to make some tough choices. And I chose to be a problem solver.”
Bice, the only announced candidate who has held elective office, said she first ran for the Legislature in 2014 “to champion conservative values.”
She said ,“Over the last five years, I've fought to protect our Second Amendment rights, I've fought to protect life and I've fought to protect religious liberties throughout the state of Oklahoma.”
And she said, “We must protect our borders. We must fight for comprehensive immigration reform.”
Terry Neese, a small business owner running for the seat, said she prays that she'll get “the opportunity to work with President Trump on illegal immigration.”
Neese, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1990, said, “I'm a true conservative and I'm unapologetically pro-life. I am a business woman. I am not a politician.”
She called Horn a socialist who helped House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., secure her leadership post.
“It's important that we take this opportunity to think about preserving the Second Amendment, defending the sanctity of life, cut spending, fix our broken healthcare system and stop illegal immigration,” Neese said.
Ward Cur tin, campaign spokesman for Horn, said Sunday, “Congresswoman Horn believes in responsible capitalism to strengthen our economy and policies t hat are good for people as well as their pocketbooks. Her values remain centered on investing in education, providing access to quality affordable healthcare and making a difference for Oklahoma families.”
Neese reported last month that she had received more than $531,000 for her campaign, with $350,000 of that coming from personal funds. B ice reported more than $181,000 in receipts, mostly from individuals, with about $16,000 from political action committees.
Horn has raised more than $960,000 since January, with $709,000 coming from individuals and the rest from PAC sand joint fundraising committees.
Marilyn VanSant, a political newcomer seeking the 5th District seat, described herself Friday as “a businesswoman, a proud mom and a Catholic” and said she grew up working in her family's lumber yard and hardware store in central Oklahoma.
The company in Guthrie hi res people facing tough challenges, including former prison inmates, she said.
“I believe in the power of jobs to stabilize families ,” she said. “I believe in securing our borders so we can focus on American jobs.”
Two military veterans who have announced their candidacy for the 5th District seat also spoke.
David Greene, of Harrah, an Air Force veteran, warned that a group raising money for progressive Democrats was “the greatest threat to your liberty that has ever come in your lifetime.”
And Army veteran Michael Ballard, of Tecumseh, said the U.S. Constitution and the country were under attack.
“I will be a proud supporter of Donald Trump in getting that wall built,” he said.
Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who ran unsuccessfully last year for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, has been considered a potential candidate for the 5th District seat, though he has not publicly expressed an interest. In recent months, he has taken positions at public relations firm and on a bank's corporate board.
Cornett ran for the seat in 2006.