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As Democratic National Convention nears, Oklahoma delegates reflect party uncertainty

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As Democratic National Convention nears, Oklahoma delegates reflect party uncertainty


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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.

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“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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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 lawmakers ask Supreme Court to let customers join ONG rate hike case

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Oklahoma lawmakers ask Supreme Court to let customers join ONG rate hike case


As an Oklahoma utility company seeks a multimillion-dollar rate increase, two Oklahoma state representatives are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to give customers a voice.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is currently deciding on a $29 million rate increase for Oklahoma Natural Gas.

If approved, officials say it would mark the fourth rate hike the OCC has approved for ONG in the last four years and has led to an $128 million increase in customer bills.

Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, and Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, have filed an appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, saying customers weren’t given a chance to participate in the case.

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“The OCC has gone completely off the beam,” ONG customers Gann and Kevin West told the Supreme Court in their June 17 petition.

In the filing, they claim that the OCC set a March 27 deadline to intervene in ONG’s rate case but only set it after the deadline had already passed.

They say ONG’s customers weren’t notified about the case until late April.

“This case was rigged from the start to keep ONG ratepayers out,” said Gann. “The federal courts have said utility customers have constitutional due process rights – including a right to timely and adequate notice about these cases. We are asking the Supreme Court to uphold customers’ rights and require the OCC to change its rules to respect them. ONG ratepayers should be allowed to exercise their right to participate without being muzzled.”

The commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the $29 million rate increase later this year.

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ONG, the OCC, and the attorney general have 30 days to respond to Gann and Kevin West’s latest ONG appeal.



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Most Oklahoma voters didn’t cast a ballot during June’s primary election

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Most Oklahoma voters didn’t cast a ballot during June’s primary election


Just 26%, or about one in four registered Oklahoma voters, cast a ballot in the race, according to an analysis of the results.

In total, 630,085 people weighed in on a state question to gradually increase the minimum wage. It was the only race open to Democrats, Republicans and independents, who weren’t eligible to vote in partisan races.

Democrats have typically opened their closed primaries to include independents, but failed to submit the paperwork for this year’s primaries on time. Some voters expressed frustration with the system on election day.

This year’s polls drew fewer voters than in 2018, the last time there was a similar gubernatorial race without incumbents. The election included a state question to approve medical marijuana, and 44% of registered voters cast ballots.

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There are almost 1.3 million registered Republicans in Oklahoma, but the GOP race for governor only garnered about 400,000 ballots. Out of more than 613,000 registered Democrats, only about 172,000 voted in Tuesday’s election.

Even though general elections are usually better attended, Oklahoma’s numbers were also low during the 2024 presidential election. One report from the University of Florida rated Oklahoma’s turnout at the time as the lowest in the nation.





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Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho

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Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho


NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.

But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.

Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.

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Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.

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Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.

Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.

Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.

She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.

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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.

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Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.

Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.

The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.

Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.

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The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.

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In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.

Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.

Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.

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