A Toss Up Election In a Historically Red State
If the Presidential election isn’t enough for you, there are also Congressional elections to account for, as well. In Oklahoma, all five United States congressional districts have candidates running for re-election or election in November. One of the two United States senators from Oklahoma is also running for re-election.
Since most of us here at Casady School live in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district, our current United States representative is Democrat Kendra Horn, but in November, she will be running for re-election against Republican Stephanie Bice. Bice was chosen as the Republican nominee in August 2020, after a run-off election with Republican Terry Neese.
Kendra Horn was born and raised in Chickasha and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tulsa. Horn supports expanding Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, as well as strengthening the safety net. She is also working to improve Oklahoma public education so that every Oklahoman can receive more than adequate education. Horn also supports pro-choice policies and is working towards expanding VA benefits for veterans. During the impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump, Kendra Horn voted for both articles of impeachment against the president.
Stephanie Bice believes that we should strengthen our border restrictions and that more families in the U.S. need more access to healthcare. Bice supports pro-life policies and plans to propose bills to fix the nationwide infrastructure.
Jim Inhofe, one of our current senators serving with senator James Lankford, is running for re-election in November against Democrat Abby Broyles. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Jim Inhofe attended the University of Tulsa and was Tulsa’s mayor from 1978-1984. Inhofe is also the current chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, as he served in the United States Army from 1956-1858.
Broyles is an award-winning journalist and attorney who is ready to "hold politicians accountable, ensure all voices are heard, and bring Oklahoma together." Broyles exposed loopholes and political corruption in the Oklahoma Senate and says she is ready to hold Inhofe accountable for not giving Oklahomans a real voice in Washington. In a stark contrast to Inhofe, Broyles believes that climate change is not a hoax and plans to make policies that will guarantee a clean future for generations to come.
Each person is entitled to his or her own opinion on issues such as these. The art of politics, which is almost never achieved, is compromise. In times like these, we must come together to find a common agreement that benefits all Americans regardless of where they're from, how wealthy they are, whom they support, etc. I encourage you to use the information above to guide you as you ponder who you would and/or will vote for in the upcoming election.