Two already looking into race for governor
A Democrat who supports legal marijuana and a Republican with a longtime animosity toward Oklahoma’s turnpike system are publicly building support for possible governor campaigns.
The next primary election is more than a year away.
In a Facebook post Thursday, former state Sen. Connie Johnson asked her supporters to post their ideas to improve the state.
“Friends, please travel this journey with us as we transition this page to support the next call to public service, running for governor of the state of Oklahoma,” Johnson posted.
The Oklahoma City Democrat did not return phone calls requesting comment.
Johnson ran for U.S. Senate in 2014 but got less than one-third of the vote. It was her first and, until now, only statewide candidacy after serving in the Oklahoma Senate. She has advocated for decriminalized and medical marijuana.
As a lawmaker, Johnson often focused on social services and children’s issues.
Tulsa Republican Gary Richardson is using Facebook to raffle an AR-15 rifle. In a Jan. 27 post, he wrote about his intentions to run.
“Some of you know, but probably not all, that my plans are to make an announcement for governor this spring. This is an effort to build our contact list,” Richardson wrote in a now-edited post.
A few days later, the reference to a campaign announcement was removed. Richardson told
The Oklahoman last year that he’s was taking “a very serious look” at running for governor in 2018, and in a recent interview with an online news outlet, Richardson said he has a consultant handling the gun giveaway.
He could not be reached for comment Friday.
Richardson ran for governor in 2002 as an independent but lost to Brad Henry. He has hinted at another campaign several times since then. Throughout his political career, Richardson has taken a populist stance on the turnpike system, criticizing its cost and the effect on small towns and property owners.
University of Oklahoma Professor Keith Gaddie said it’s early in the campaign season for candidates to make public appeals.
“The public barely pays attention to the Legislature,” he said. “I don’t think announcing early gives you any particular leg up whatsoever.”
It’s not unusual for campaigns to be gearing up for a run this early, however. Gaddie said there is a series of primaries before the actual one in 2018.
“You’ve got a shadow primary going on right now where people are trying to feel out whether or not they’ve got support,” he said.
Then there’s the money primary where candidates gauge donor interest. Finally, the voting primary would put Johnson and Richardson against other candidates who Gaddie said are generally assumed to be exploring their own campaigns: Democratic state Rep. Scott Inman and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, a Republican.
Lamb reported in campaign finance reports last month having about $1 million on hand. When Richardson ran for governor, he loaned his campaign $2.3 million.