OKRA Convention Success: Straw Poll Results

  Last night's OKRA Endorsing Convention was a huge success for the Republican Assemblies.  Our delegates sifted through 94 Republican primary races in just 70 minutes.  
  Several candidates and their assigned surrogates did manage to stop by and greet the delegates over dinner.   We decided to do an 'open mic' for about 15 minutes, prior to 'gavelling in'.
​ We endorsed 62 candidates, all of whom secured between 67% and 100% of the votes in the convention hall.
  In eight races there were many appealing candidates to choose from.  Here are the straw poll results.

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Governor:
Fisher 52%
Richardson: 29%
​Stitt: 14%
​Lamb: 4%

Congress Dist 1:
Dahm: 62%
​Coleman: 38%

Congress Dist. 3:
Dugan 48%
​Lucas: 48%
​Undecided: 4%

Congress Dist. 5:
Edwards: 65%
​Russell: 35%

State House Dist 41:
Hader: 53%
​Ingle: 47%

State House Dist 98:
Howard: 48% (tie)
Pratt: 48% (tie)
​Crane: 4%

Tulsa Co. Comm. Dist. 1
Undecided: 62%
Sallee: 19%
Wilson: 19%

Tulsa Co. Assessor
Wright: 62%
​Gantz: 38%

The Balloting Committee stayed until after 10pm, tabulating over 90 races.

In a personal note to the convention delegates:
  We moved fast, last night. Congratulations to the delegates. They were a great group and very informed on so many races.  I hope we continue to take on the kind of agenda we did at this most recent convention. 
  I regret one particular dialogue which occurred. A delegate spoke with me today about an unfounded allegation made by a visitor who was not authorized properly to address the convention delegates.  The member who expressed a valid disappointment in my judgment is the vice president of Tulsa County Republican Mens Club. His club decided to facilitate a debate on a legislative issue called National Popular Vote. The president of the club is now running for a county office.
  I allowed a visiting observer to speak (which is against the NFRA rules for conducting this event).  The visitor claimed that one candidate was a big supporter of National Popular Vote. 
  I did some extensive research today and discovered that the allegation is not credible. Even those who do support NPV confirmed as much. I'd hate to think that someone would accuse me of supporting the agenda of every speaker  whom I invite to address the group. 
​  Sadly,  I believe this 'last minute' allegation may have impacted the integrity of the vote in that race. I will do my best to maintain a greater respect for the rules in the future.

~ David Van Risseghem
President TARA, 2017-19

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