Southpark, a cartoon show, might have said it best when they described the primordial choice of choosing between a turd and a douche when describing their options in some elections. Luckily it seems like that is not the option here. Both are very qualified, smart and successful, so what divides them. That is probably the most alarming part of this article in that although both brilliant it seems their own personal animus’s is the only thing to divide these two candidates.
Gentner Drummond (Drummond) is a wealthy cattleman turned land, oil and gas tycoon. At the time of writing this article an anonymous source told me Drummond has ownership shares in (9) nine banks. It appears as though he will use this catapult as Attorney General to then run for Governor. With that type of trajectory there could be a hope of a President from Oklahoma. But his downfall seems to be a generationally cooling effect wherein Drummond is incapable of bringing the youth vote nor left side of the aisle.
A wealthy businessman in his own right, John O’Connor (O’Connor) is a skilled lawyer and was appointed Attorney General (AG) under Governor Kevin Stitt (Stitt) who is also up for re-election. Still is polarizing and controversial in his ‘fights’ with the tribes, the States number one employer and something like (5%) five percent of GDP. Stitt in his first term in office unsuccessfully tried to change gaming tax laws and still continues to fight McGirt, a ruling that held much of North East Oklahoma to still be Federally recognized Sovereign Non-foreign Nations also known as a Reservation.
O’Connor does not appear as marred as the former AG Mike Hunter who resigned amid rumors of some type of inter office affair soon proceeded by a divorce. At least that was the somewhat public narrative. AG Mike Hunter is currently being sued for his abuse of his office and using his position to pursue personal vendettas.
Drummond and O’Connor seem like relics of a bygone era. Do you want the yes man to Stitt or do you want the wealthy billionaire that doesn’t care at all about you. The Tulsa World noted in a 2019 article that the, “. . . federal government is suing Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond, his Drummond Ranch LLC, and two companies hired to apply herbicides to lands near Birch and Skiatook lakes for the loss of more than 40,000 trees on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property near the lakes.” When asked for comment, Drummond replied,
My family and I have ranched the Osage since before statehood, he wrote in a statement provided to the Tulsa World. The Corps of Engineers exercised its power of eminent domain during the ’70s to take part of our ranch. We have remained faithful stewards and good neighbors since that time. Also since the ’70s, we have regularly controlled black jack oak trees with aerial spraying to enhance the native bluestem grasses and provide for the natural wildlife. Id.
Maybe it’s just me but this feels out of touch with the wants and needs of the little guy. If Stitt loses it will be against Joy Hoffmeister (Hoffmeister) who will likely be the challenger in the final election. Hoffmeister was formerly a republican but switched party affiliations to run against Stitt. It is likely Hoffmeister would work best with Drummond as this way there can be a fresh start but this is merely speculation.
One thing is for sure and thats Southpark was not so far o ff when they artfully describe the choices in a deeply conservative state like Oklahoma.
