Oklahoma

As Democratic National Convention nears, Oklahoma delegates reflect party uncertainty

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2024

As Democratic National Convention nears, Oklahoma delegates reflect party uncertainty

With Republicans starting their national nominating convention in Milwaukee on Monday, Oklahoma’s Democratic delegates to their party’s Chicago convention in mid-August reflect the uncertainty many have over President Joe Biden’s selection to be a candidate in the November general election.

“Biden’s my guy,” says Alicia Andrews , head of Oklahoma’s Democratic party.

“If it was up to me, I would tell everybody to shut up about having him drop out of the race and focus on reelecting a president who will preserve our democracy,” Andrews told The Oklahoman in a brief interview.

Referring to former President Donald Trump, expected to be the Republican presidential nominee, Andrews said, “we sure don’t want that dictator wannabe. We need to ride with the guy who beat him once and can beat him again.”

But while Andrews is supportive of Biden, former Gov. David Walters said it will be increasingly difficult for Biden to continue as the party’s nominee if swing state polls continue to deteriorate. “Fifty states don’t elect a president anymore,” Walters said. “In reality, it’s only about 10 states.”

Should Biden step aside, Walters said he hoped the party would have an open and transparent nomination process. “It strengthens the ticket a lot more if there’s a little competition,” he said.

Walters, in addition to his spot as a delegate, also serves on the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee. Walters said he was attending this year’s convention with his 17-year-old grandson, Harrison Fried, who was serving as a page.

Is it too late to change the Democratic presidential nominee?

Walters said this year’s convention could be a historic one for Democrats, if it actually chooses the presidential nominee. “That’s the way it used to be done,” he said. “There’s no reason it wouldn’t work again.”

Walters also downplayed claims that it was too late in the process to change candidates. “If the UK can change its entire government in six weeks, then we should be able to,” he said. “So we’re going to prepare for what could be a very historic and interesting convention.”

The Oklahoma party’s website lists 13 of some 40 delegates from the state expected to attend the Chicago convention starting Aug. 19, including Walters and current state House Democratic leader Cyndi Munson, D-OKC. Walters served as governor from 1991-95.

More: Biden rallies to chants of ‘Don’t you quit,’ attacks press for giving Trump ‘free pass’

Currently the state has a Republican governor, all Republicans in its seven-member Congressional delegation and a strong majority of Republicans in both houses of the state legislature.

Discussions about Biden are distractions, Oklahoma Democratic delegate says

Oklahoma Democratic Committee delegate at-large Antwuan Jackson II said he thinks President Biden should stay in the campaign, noting he and the vice president are “our best hope for protecting the future of our country.”

“The opposition offers no credible alternative. They have shown themselves to be divisive, lacking in character, and detrimental to the interests of minorities, the middle class, working class Americans, and small business owners,” Jackson said in a statement.

Jackson said the discussions about President Biden’s age and mental acuity are distractions from substantial progress and meaningful change he and Vice President Kamala Harris have already achieved. He said he has heard from voters that they see a stark contrast between the presidential candidates, with Biden offering integrity and dedication to public service.

More: The GOP presidential nominee isn’t in question, but OK lawmakers expect debates at the convention

“Oklahoma voters, regardless of political affiliation, recognize the importance of a leader who can uphold the principles of honesty, competence and compassion in guiding our country forward,” he said.

Matthew Lucas, also an at-large delegate, said he believes that the party is firmly behind Biden. Lucas told The Oklahoman he believes the conversation surrounding Biden’s age and mental state are a “sideshow distraction.”

The Democratic National Convention in August should highlight the stark differences between the two parties, Lucas said, adding that more than 40 delegates from Oklahoma would be attending.

Opinion: No country for old men. Biden, Trump block the way for newer, younger leaders.

“I think that’s going to be a defining point of this convention, making sure that we reiterate not only to our state delegates and everyone, but to the American people as well, that it is a real threat to our democracy,” he said. Lucas is going to the national convention for the first time and he’s assigned as a floor whip for Oklahoma’s fourth congressional district. More than 40 delegates from Oklahoma are attending.

M. Scott Carter and Jordan Gerard contributed to this story.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Thunder writer wants apology from Seattle fans if Sonics return

Published

2 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma City Thunder writer wants apology from Seattle fans if Sonics return

The Seattle SuperSonics haven’t touched the floor in almost 20 years since the beloved team was taken to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder in 2008.
It’s been two decades since one of the most painful relocations in the history of professional sports. That year, Oklahoma investor Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City after purchasing the franchise from Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz two years prior.
Seattle fans still haven’t gotten over the move all these years later, and who could really blame them after the way their team was ripped out of their city. However, Sonics fans are closer than ever to getting the Sonics back after the NBA went public with its hopes to expand to 32 teams by placing teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.
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You would think this would be a story that would be celebrated across the universe. And since Oklahoma City just won a championship with the Thunder and are the favorites to win another NBA title this year, you would think that Seattle getting back their Sonics would be the least of their concerns. They won and they continue to win. Seattle getting the Sonics name, history, and colors back from the Thunder already has precedent with the re-christening of the Charlotte Hornets and the complicated web between Charlotte and New Orleans franchises. So what’s the big deal, right?
Well, USA Today’s OKC Thunder wire reporter Clemente Almanza doesn’t quite see it that way.
In a column entitled, “If Sonics want history back, Seattle owes OKC Thunder an apology,” Almanza makes the case that aggrieved Sonics fans should say sorry after actively rooting against the Thunder for so many years.

If the Sonics are brought back, how do the Thunder address the giant elephant in the room? Of course, I’m talking about Seattle’s NBA history from 1967 to 2007. Does OKC gift it back to Seattle, when it technically doesn’t have to, when you look at the nitty-gritty of the original contract details?

The Thunder give the Sonics back their history, it’s not that hard. They’re not going to take the 2025 NBA Finals trophy with them! And it’s not even like the Thunder are using Sonics-inspired throwback jerseys with the famous green and gold color combos like the Tennessee Titans do with the history of the Houston Oilers.

Yeah. Sure. Might as well. Not like the Thunder acknowledges the Sonics’ history even though they technically own it.

Ok good, now everyone is on the same page and we should be able to move forward together.
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But under one caveat — an apology.

* insert blinking guy gif here *
Sonics fans in Seattle owe Oklahoma City and Thunder fans an apology? After going without a basketball team for 20 years and seeing the franchise that was taken away from them build the best young team in the league that looks like they are turning into a dynasty before their eyes? What about other fans that have had to suffer from losing their teams? Should Oakland A’s fans just thank John Fisher for the memories and wish them well in Sacramento and Las Vegas and wherever else they actually play?

For 18 years, Thunder fans have dealt with Sonics fans’ bitter behavior. When an inconvenience happens to OKC, Seattleites are the first to celebrate with online parties. Angered over a dramatic divorce, that group of people is directing their emotions at the wrong group.
Sonics fans should really be mad at Howard Schultz and the previous group. After all, they’re the ones who sold the NBA franchise to Bennett. Once that move was made, the writing was on the wall with an eventual relocation — especially since Seattle didn’t want to pony up for a new NBA arena.

Professional sports fans are beginning to warm up to the idea that billion dollar local government bailouts for billionaire owners aren’t exactly the best use of public funds. There were even serious questions about the renovation of KeyArena (now Climate Pledge Arena) when it happened in 2018 and that was without a guarantee that the Sonics would ever return. Now Seattle has an NHL team and perhaps an NBA team on the way. But it has certainly come at a significant cost.
And for that matter, are Thunder fans really watching over their shoulder worried about what people in a city almost 2,000 miles away think about their basketball teams? It’s not like Seattle fans are conducting operations in the streets of Oklahoma City to deface Thunder billboards or anything. Where are the Thunder fans who are so agonized that Seattle didn’t enjoy their title as much as they did in Oklahoma City?!?
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They weren’t the ones who refused to accommodate an NBA team. They weren’t the ones who sold the team to an out-of-state ownership group when local groups were interested. They weren’t the ones who were gullible enough to believe an out-of-state ownership group had a real interest in staying put.
I digress. Feels like that should be water under the bridge soon. Seattle should get an NBA team by the end of the decade. But if they want their Sonics’ history back, an apology is in order. That’s what happens when you have nearly two decades of misguided anger.

Telling Sonics fans not to be angry at Clay Bennett for moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City is like asking Cleveland Browns fans not to be angry at Art Modell. It’s never going to happen in a million years. Seattle basketball fans got to see Kevin Durant’s rookie season and then he left. That’s one of the biggest teases in sports history. Let alone multiple eras of sustained success in Oklahoma City. You can understand there might be some bitterness! And it’s totally natural and understandable. As are the replies on social media that aren’t exactly in agreement with Almanza’s column.
Trying to hold the Sonics history hostage for a mythical apology is a hot take that not even ChatGPT could conjure up if you asked it to create the most scorching opinion about the entire situation. The column may get some cheers locally, and maybe that’s all it’s meant to do. But the only thing it will really accomplish is making the bad blood in Seattle boil even more after being told what to do by someone representing who they believe truly wronged them. That first visit of the Thunder to Seattle will only be matched by LeBron James’ first game back in Cleveland after joining the Miami Heat. And it’ll be must-see TV for basketball fans everywhere.

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Oklahoma County Commissioner comments on news of Myles Davidson’s resignation

Published

14 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma County Commissioner comments on news of Myles Davidson’s resignation

Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson is resigning.

Commissioner Brian Maughan released a statement to Fox 25 Friday night regarding Davidson’s resignation saying it “allows us to focus on solving the problems with our budget this year and the construction of the new jail.”

News of his resignation comes just over a week after a Cleveland County judge granted a final order of protection against Davidson. Court records show the order is effective until March 11, 2029.

There have previously been calls for him to resign after allegations of sexual assault came to light in September.

Fox 25 is working to obtain more information about Davidson’s decision to resign.

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Oklahoma vs Idaho predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament First Round

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2026

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Oklahoma vs Idaho predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament First Round

The First Round of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Friday with a slate featuring No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho on the 16-game schedule.

Here is the latest on Friday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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