Oklahoma

Sen. James Lankford Faces Backlash For 3-Second Appearance During State Of The Union Address

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Sen. James Lankford Faces Backlash For 3-Second Appearance During State Of The Union Address

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford caused an uproar on social media after agreeing with President Biden on the bipartisan immigration bill which was rejected by Republicans earlier this year.

Lankford made a three-second appearance during the State of the Union Address, during which he can be seen mouthing, “That’s true,” while President Joe Biden delivered the address.

The Oklahoma County Republican Party even apparently voted to censure Senator Lankford after the address.

Supporters of the Senator posted on social media about the censure after an Oklahoma County GOP meeting on Saturday.

The State Party attempted to censure Lankford in January over the bipartisan border deal, but former President Donald Trump’s opposition ultimately torpedoed it.

Party leaders pulled that state censure, saying the meeting was illegal and that the censure was not binding.

Lankford told CNN over the weekend that President Joe Biden was correct in the State of the Union when he said the bill would have added 100 immigration judges and more than 4,000 asylum officers.

“I was listening to the President, and obviously, as he was walking through, I could hear my colleagues around me saying none of that is true. I was actually listening to the President and thinking, no, that part is actually true,” Lankford said. “It [the border bill] would have hired all of those additional agents, would have expedited the [asylum] process [to deport illegal border crossers], and would have also changed the asylum standard.”

Senator Lankford also gave an update on conditions at the border over the weekend ahead of a hearing on Monday held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

He said the southern border is a massive terrorism risk, and in the past four and a half months, 50 people on the terrorism watch list were arrested crossing the border, and 10,000 people stopped were classified as “Special Interest Aliens.”

News 9 reached out to the Oklahoma County GOP and Senator Lankford’s office about the censure and has not heard back yet.

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Oklahoma

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

Published

45 minutes ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

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.

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

Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho

Published

11 hours ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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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