By Constitution Staff

The reelection bid of Governor Mary Fallin naturally leads the slate of contests for statewide office. With a number of Republican incumbents elected in 2010 running for a second term, few other contests have developed this year.

Fallin, 59, is heavily favored to win a second term as governor, but she has drawn two primary challengers, two Independents, and one Democrat, Joe Dorman, 43, of Rush Springs.

Chad Moody, 46, of Oklahoma City, and Dax Ewbank, 38, of Guthrie are challenging Fallin for the Republican nomination, while two Independents await Dorman and the winner of the Republican contest on the November ballot: Richard Prawdzienski, 66, of Edmond; and Kimberly Willis, 51, of Oklahoma City.

While serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Fallin could only manage a Conservative Index score of 59%. Throughout her long political career, Fallin has maintained a strongly pro-life position. After her time in the Oklahoma House, she spent twelve years as Oklahoma's lieutenant governor, a position in which her political philosophy would naturally not be demonstrated. However, she did raise some conservative eyebrows when her only venture into the issue of gun rights was to push for citizens to use gun locks.

In 2006, Fallin emerged from a crowded field to win an election to Congress. While in the U.S. House of Representatives, Fallin actually compiled a conservative voting record somewhat better than she had achieved in the Oklahoma Legislature. Then, in 2008, Fallin voted for the bailout of the big banks (TARP), the biggest issue which created the Tea Party movement.

When she ran for governor in 2010, Fallin won a 55-40 victory over Tea Party favorite Randy Brogdon, and then defeated moderate Democrat Jari Askins, to take office as Oklahoma's first woman governor.

Since assuming the governorship, Fallin has signed most conservative legislation passed by the overwhelmingly Republican Oklahoma Legislature, but caused comparisons to President Barack Obama when she issued executive orders like she was passing laws. Perhaps the biggest issue has been her strong support for Common Core, even meeting with Republican legislators in an effort to persuade them to join her in supporting the controversial education plan. When challenged that Common Core was condemned by the Oklahoma Republican Party platform, Fallin sat silent when her top aide, Denise Northrup, dismissed concerns about going against the party platform on the issue of Common Core.

Still, Fallin has led a charmed political life, causing one legislator to tell us that he often referred to her as "Magic Mary." She is expected to coast to the Republican nomination, then defeat her Democrat challenger, Joe Dorman, in the general election.

Dorman has tried to use the tragedy of the May 2013 Moore Tornado in his present race against Fallin, calling for a state-funded effort to build tornado shelters in every Oklahoma school. With a 40% Conservative Index score, Dorman is considered one of the least liberal Democrats in the Legislature, and it should be noted that his 40% is not much lower than what Fallin achieved during her tenure.

Dorman voted to prohibit the use of foreign laws in Oklahoma courts, has taken a good Second Amendment stance on guns, has voted for reform in the Food Stamp program in Oklahoma, for pro-life legislation, against bonded indebtedness, to oppose invasion of citizen's privacy through the RFID driver's license, to tell the federal government that Oklahoma intended to assert its sovereignty under the 10th Amendment, and to block national health care. In fact, Dorman scored 60% Conservative during one session of his tenure in the House.

Todd Lamb, 42, is expected to easily win reelection as lieutenant governor over Democrat Cathy Cummings, 52, of Oklahoma City. The office of lieutenant governor usually does not require the incumbent to take positions that could lead to electoral trouble.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, 58, is running for reelection. The Edmond Republican is being challenged in the November election by Democrat Mike Workman, 63, of Tulsa..

Insurance Commissioner John Doak, 51, does have a Republican primary opponent. Bill Viner, 61, of Moore is challenging Doak for the GOP nomination. Doak is expected to have no trouble with his reelection bid. Barry Goldwater, Jr. recently visited the state and made appearances in support to Doak's reelection. There are no Democrats nor Independents in the race, so the office will be filled in the June 24 Primary.

The race for Superintendent of Public Instruction has attracted a large field of candidates (see the separate article covering that race).

State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, and Treasurer Ken Miller all avoided any competition in either the Republican primary or the general election, and will be reelected to their posts they first won in the Republican sweep of 2010.