Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett has announced plans to run for Governor in 2018. He made the announcement on Twitter Wednesday.
His current mayoral position is nonpartisan, however Cornett, a Republican, will likely be a contender in the GOP primary. Gov. Mary Fallin is term-limited and unable to run for reelection. Cornett’s announcement brings the number of Republicans in the race to four. He joins State Auditor Gary Jones, Tulsa personal injury lawyer Gary Richardson and Lt. Governor Todd Lamb. Three Democrats have announced their intentions to run - Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma House of Representatives minority leader Scott Inman and former State Sen. Connie Johnson.
Next week I'll be filing the papers and making it official that I'll be a candidate for Governor. Our work is just beginning for Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/FOFrApxQMM
— Mick Cornett (@MickCornett) May 31, 2017
Mick Cornett
Oklahoma City’s longest serving mayor, Mick Cornett announced earlier this year that his 4th mayoral term would be his last. The 58-year-old said on twitter he’s preparing to run for Governor in 2018 and that he will make a formal announcement later this summer. The mayor says, "The work is just beginning in Oklahoma." Cornett was a broadcast journalist for 20 years before running for Oklahoma City’s Ward 1 seat. He was first elected mayor in 2004.
Gary Jones
State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones told The Associated Press he will formally launch his campaign in the fall. Jones, 62, is a former telecommunications industry executive from the southwest Oklahoma community of Cache. He also served as a Comanche County commissioner and as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party for more than six years.
Gary Richardson
Gary Richardson ran first ran for governor in 2002 as an independent against Democrat Brad Henry and Republican Steve Largent. Despite winning more than 14 percent of the vote in 2002, the 76-year-old plans to run as a Republican in 2018. At his announcement at the Oklahoma History Center, he touted the need for a detailed audit of every state agency, especially Oklahoma’s system of turnpikes, which he says should be eliminated.
Todd Lamb
Lt. Governor Todd Lamb has filed a statement of organization with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and issued a statement saying he is "strongly considering” running in 2018. An Enid native and a former state senator, the 45-year-old Lamb was elected lieutenant governor in 2010. He stepped down from Governor Fallin’s cabinet in February when she proposed increasing sales taxes on services to fill a state budget hole.
Connie Johnson
Former State Senator Connie Johnson was the first person to declare her candidacy. She is from Oklahoma City and is the now vice-chair of the state Democratic Party. The 64-year-old told The Associated Press she represents a progressive voice that the people of Oklahoma are ready to support.
Drew Edmondson
Former state attorney general Drew Edmondson served four terms before running for governor in 2010. Recently, the 70-year-old led the successful campaign against state question 777, also known as the “right to farm” amendment. Edmondson currently works in private practice in Oklahoma City with the Riggs Abney firm.
Scott Inman
Oklahoma's House Minority Leader, Scott Inman, is an attorney and was first elected to the House in 2006 and was elected Democratic leader three years later. He's term limited in the Legislature in 2018. The Democrat from Del City says he's spent the last year visiting with business, education and community leaders across Oklahoma, talking about ways to improve the state.
Primary elections will take place June 26, 2018, and if needed, run off elections would be August 28.
The 2018 gubernatorial general election takes place November 6, 2018.
