Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to seek re-election

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) announced Thursday (Oct. 17) she would seek re-election in 2014. Fallin made the announcement during three campaign stops in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Lawton.

Fallin has also served as Lt. Gov. of Oklahoma (1995-2007) and a member of the U.S. House as a representative for Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District (2007-2011).

The only other announced candidate for Oklahoma Governor is R.J. Harris, a Democrat from Norman.

Fallin was elected governor in 2011 with 60% of the vote, and became the state’s first female to hold the top job.

“Oklahoma has pursued conservative, common sense policies that have helped to right our economy and put tens of thousands of men and women back to work,” Fallin said in a statement announcing her re-election bid. “We need to build on that momentum to ensure that Oklahoma families and businesses continue to thrive. That’s why I’m running to be your governor for a second term.”

Fallin’s re-election statement included the following points.

• Fallin has pushed an aggressive agenda since her election to get the state back on track. To help create jobs and boost the economy, she partnered with lawmakers to pass pro-business reforms like tax cuts, lawsuit reform and a complete overhaul of the state’s workers’ compensation system.


• To eliminate government waste and help close the budget shortfall, she worked to consolidate or eliminate dozens of agencies, boards and commissions. She also prioritized spending needs, making tough budget cuts while still providing the necessary funding for priorities like education, public safety and health services.


• Governor Fallin also stood up to the Obama Administration, saying “no” to the Obamacare Medicaid expansion that would have driven the state off a fiscal cliff.
• Fallin said Oklahoma’s progress has been significant, but that the bad policies and gridlock coming from Washington threaten to derail the Oklahoma Comeback.