Posted on 01/21/2014 6:12:46 PM PST by AuH2ORepublican
Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon is forming an exploratory committee to look more closely at a potential run in the special election for retiring Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-Okla.) seat, multiple sources tell The Hill.
Shannon’s office declined to comment, but sources say he's now expected to run.
One source tells The Hill Shannon has received dozens of calls from supporters “very enthusiastically encouraging him to run” since Coburn’s announcement last week that he’ll retire at the end of the year.
Shannon would run as a conservative alternative to Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who entered the race Monday to considerable pushback from conservative groups.
"We have reviewed his record and it's clear that conservatives cannot count on him to fight for their principles,” Senate Conservatives Fund Executive Director Matt Hoskins said in a statement after Lankford announced.
That group endorsed Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) for reelection and urged him to run for Senate last year. Bridenstine would likely get the support of most of those deep-pocketed national conservative groups if he ran.
But with Shannon in the race, Bridenstine wouldn’t be guaranteed to pick up the anti-Lankford mantle, and the two run the risk of splitting the conservative vote and giving Lankford an opening to take the primary.
More likely, observers say, is for the primary to head to a runoff, where Lankford and an alternative candidate would face off.
Shannon’s supporters believe he could have a shot at making it to the runoff because he’s got the strong political ties within Oklahoma that Bridenstine lacks, and the state House speaker has also been a stronger fundraiser than the congressman. Shannon has raised his profile within the state over the past year, as he was named one of the Republican National Committee’s “Rising Stars.”
Sources close to Bridenstine say he hasn’t yet made his decision, and it ultimately wouldn’t be based on what any other candidate does.
Oh, and national right-to-life groups certainly did not think that Senger’s bill merely “required better conditions for abortion clinics.” It’s the type of legislation that can drive out abortionists, and was the only aspect of the Texas abortion law that was challenged in federal court (a similar law in MS also was challenged because it would drive away the last few abortionists from the state).
I emailed a few members of the IL Center Right Coalition, a conservative, statewide group that was founded in 2003, and I asked for their opinions about Senger. I’m the ICRC vice-chairman and former chairma. Jon Zahm, the ICRC executive director and former chairman, said, “I prefer Balkema because Senger has some pro tax votes and Balkema is more conservative overall. He spoke at our meeting as well.” Jon was referring to a meeting that the ICRC held on Dec. 7, in Oakbrook Terrace. Senger was invited, but she didn’t respond to the email.
Not that I know of. I didn't mean to imply their was. Certainly he's better than Lankford who I would (as others have) compare to his "mentor" Tom Cole (not that Cole is Stalin as a few people seem to think). It's just that I see nothing particularly "right with him", a freshman US Rep., to elevate him over Shannon and justify some of the more aggressive endorsements I've seen.
So I'm wondering which blog or "tea party group" or radio talk show host that people put so much stock in is feeding people their opinions of him. It feels like one of those situations to me. His Grace, Mark Levin?
Levin and the Senate Conservatives Fund have given Bridenstine their seal of approval, and I don’t see any reason why he’d be undeserving of it. He’s been a solid conservative in the House, and I can’t name an issue he’s weak on
Shannon I don’t know enough about, but all I’ve heard is good. As long as OK sends one of these two to the senate, I’ll be happy.
Yes, they do have to give up their seats to run.
So I take it that the Executive director of the Center Right Coalition didn’t say that Senger is a social liberal. If casting a few “pro tax votes” after serving a few years in the IL state house is the worst thing they can say about her, her voting record must be pretty good.
Do you know who has never cast a “pro tax” vote? Any candidate who has never served in a state legislature, or compiled any type of record on which to judge him or her.
That being said, while Balkema certainly has been able to avoid compromise votes and the like by serving in the Grundy County Board instead of the IL House of Representatives, I suspect that Jon Zahm is correct in his assessment that Balkema is more conservative than Senger. But in that district, being more identifiably conservative and hailing from the boondocks outside the district aren’t exactly helpful traits if one wants to win the general election.
I’m no fan of taking Levin’s endorsements as the anointing of heaven and in fact given that he backed Liz Cheney I have to be skeptical. I think this Levin hive mind thing that some freepers have going on, is harmful.
Shannon seems like the clear choice to me. Perhaps it’s arrogant of me but I can’t see why 99% of conservatives wouldn’t agree despite what some radio host thinks.
So long as the Paulistinians aren’t the ones pushing Bridenstine (and they’re not—I checked), we’re good.
From what I’ve read about Bridenstine, he is *not* a Paultard, and if L. Ron Paul decides to endorse Bridenstine because he agrees with him on certain issues I won’t hold it against Bridenstine (just as I wouldn’t hold it against Shannon if Ron Paul or Mitch McConnell decide to jump on his bandwagon).
What has Bridenstine done wrong in your view? I think his preference for Cantor for Speaker is a mark against him in some regard. Not that Boehner is any better, but Cantor is terrible as well, but beyond that I can’t see anything wrong with him.
As I said, NOTHING. But what has he done right compared to Shannon? I think he should stay in the House a while, he just got there.
How long has Shannon been speaker?
CD-8, Walsh ran ahead of Romney which surprised the hell out of me given his difficulties. Makes me think the district is more amenable than the Obama percentage would indicate (When you run ahead of normal performance like Obama did in IL and CA, anomalies can occur, there’s no way that CD 10 is actually marginally more conservative than CD 8) and that Suckworth is something of a paper tiger. I suspect Walsh would have held on under the old lines. Goel was recruited to run by the “evil” Pete Sessions so I’m surprised I’m not seeing tons of people bash her and tout her opponent. If Auh2o’s financial figures are accurate, that’s not a race, Goel wins and has a good shot in November.
CD-11: Biggert was curbstomped by margin similar to the POTUS blowout, which surprised me given than Dold and Walsh ran appreciably ahead of Romney. I was also surprised by the number of GOP candidates running (5, the most of any seat). From what little I’ve heard I’d tend to go with Chris Balkema over Darlene Stenger. It will be one of them. Not very hopeful for November.
CD-13 I’m not worried about losing in the seat in this midterm despite it’s extreme closeness in the POTUS election (I’d like to know the Bush/Kerry numbers and the Brady/Quinn numbers) It is a competitive district but it’s not gonna turn this time. Go Erika go! This is the most important primary in IL House races. Appointed hack incumbent versus someone who could be a conservative star. There is also a nobody third candidate named Mike Firsching.
CD 16 Kinzinger is disappointing. I so wish conservative Don Manzullo had defeated him in the 2012 battle of incumbants. David Hale, according to Billyboy, has been praiseful of RINO Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, which is a negative indication of his (Hale’s) character or intelligence depending on whether he was bribed or fooled or is just the kind of guy who likes to kiss all the a**es so he’s sure he’s covered the one that ends up winning. I would vote AGAINST Kinzinger and thus for Hale if I lived there. But again, if the financials are accurate, that’s not much of a race either.
Sometimes that’s the best time to send them, before they spoil. Look at Arkansas with Cotton and Brownback in KS jumped to Dole’s seat before he completed a full House term.
Don’t forget Bost running against Enyart. I think that’s one we could steal.
Walsh has endorsed Goel in the race for Suckworth’s seat. I think she’ll win.
He’s in his first year as Speaker (and 7th year overall in the OK House).
If Shannon has fought against commie core, that’s a big plus on his record.
Wait, he’s half black and half Native American?
Just so we’re clear, is that real Native American or Elizabeth Warren Native American?
I don’t want a senator who has been anywhere near Cole. This guy is a Cruz-hating troll.
I don’t know what percentage he is, but he is a duly enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation and served in a high position as the chief administrative officer for Chickasaw Nation Enterprises. If he was a faker, he would’ve been found out by now (unlike Fauxcahontas, for whom her employers didn’t even take a few minutes to confirm she was no more a Native American than Flipper the Dolphin).
Ah, Walsh’s seal of the approval is a good sign for Goel.
I was just talking about seats with GOP primaries, Bost is unopposed to take on Enyart. RINO Dold is unopposed to take on Brad Schneider in the 10th and Bobby Schilling is unopposed to take on Bustos in the 17th.
I’d rank the 12th (Bost/Enyart) and the 8th as the best chances at gains. I’m least optimistic about the 11th.
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