Hundreds of political donors give maximum in Oklahoma primary races
Hundreds of campaign donors have given $5,000 each — the maximum allowed by law — to statewide candidates in advance of Tuesday’s primary elections, records show.
- View a list of maxed-out donors here.
From Sunday’s paper:
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BY PAUL MONIES and JOHN ESTUS
Staff Writers
The Oklahoman
A sluggish economy hasn’t slowed political donations this campaign season.
As Tuesday’s primary approaches, hundreds of donors have already given $5,000 each — the maximum amount allowed by law — to a statewide campaign, according to an analysis of Ethics Commission campaign finance data.
Some top donors said it’s the economy that has spurred them to give so much this year.
Among them is Devon Energy Corp. Executive Chairman Larry Nichols, who said he’ll consider donating to candidates who are intelligent, hard-working and have a vision based on “sound principles” about where the state should go — particularly from an economic standpoint.
“States either grow or shrink,” Nichols said. “Without a vibrant economy, which is to say good employers and good jobs, the state cannot generate enough resources to do those things that citizens want state governments to do.”
Nichols has given maximum donations to six statewide candidates this campaign season — more than any other donor has given to statewide candidates, the analysis shows.
One of those is the gubernatorial campaign of U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, who has the most maximum donations of any statewide candidate, with 206 from individuals and 17 from political action committees, the analysis shows.
Her campaign has raised $2.4 million.
The 5th Congressional District representative and former lieutenant governor is the favorite to secure the Republican nomination Tuesday.
Her top opponent, state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, has 11 individual donors who have given $5,000. Brogdon has raised about $392,000.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson has the next highest amount of maxed out donors after Fallin among statewide candidates, with 123 individuals, three political action committees and three American Indian tribes giving $5,000, according to the analysis.
Edmondson’s campaign has raised $2.6 million.
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who is locked in a tight battle with Edmondson for the Democratic nomination for governor, has received 79 maximum donations from individuals, six from political action committees and five from tribes, the analysis shows.
Askins has raised $2.1 million, including $675,000 of her own money she loaned her campaign.
Election year ‘important’ Nichols called this year’s campaign season “probably the most important election in my life” because of the progress Oklahoma has made in recent years.
“Oklahoma is really poised on the edge of being able to attract quality jobs to this state,” Nichols said. “To do that, we need some legislators and some statewide elected officials that have a vision of where this state might go to create a better lifestyle for all of our citizens.”
In addition to Fallin, Nichols also gave $5,000 each to the statewide campaigns of attorney general candidate Scott Pruitt, superintendent of public instruction candidate Janet Barresi, Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy, treasurer candidate Rep. Ken Miller, R-Edmond, and lieutenant governor candidate Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond.
Several of Edmondson’s maximum campaign donors did not return calls seeking comment Friday.
Among the maximum donors to Askins is Barry Switzer, the former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys football coach.
Switzer endorsed Askins recently, saying in a radio advertisement that “she’s a great friend, a sports fan and she’ll be a great governor.”
The coach added: “And not to mention, she’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”
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Who are the maxed-out donors?
The maxed-out campaign contributors to statewide candidates are overwhelmingly from the legal profession and business.
Almost $3.4 million has come so far from individual donors who have contributed $5,000 to various state campaigns.
More than 20 percent of the big contributors identified themselves as attorneys or lawyers. Their combined giving so far to statewide candidates is more than $700,000.
Business executives also were big donors, with more than $700,000 coming from people describing themselves as chief executive officers, owners, presidents or management employees. Other big donors were either retired, doctors or bankers.
More than $3 million came from Oklahoma residents. Big-donor Texans contributed more than $85,000, while at least $30,000 came from Arizona.
Donors report their occupation and employer to campaigns, which then file reports to the state Ethics Commission. Many donors choose not to report, making exact comparisons difficult.
–Paul Monies, Database Editor
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Maxed-out donors at a glance
Candidates have already received hundreds of maximum contributions from donors — individuals, political action committees or tribes — this election season. (i = incumbent)
GOVERNOR
Mary Fallin (R)
Individuals: 206
PACs: 17
Drew Edmondson (D)
Individuals: 123
PACs: 3
Tribes: 3
Jari Askins (D)
Individuals: 79
PACs: 6
Tribes: 5
Randy Brogdon (R)
Individuals: 11
Roger Jackson (R)
Individuals: 2
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Todd Lamb (R)
Individuals: 47
PACs: 6
Tribes: 2
Kenneth Corn (D)
Individuals: 13
PACs: 6
Tribes: 2
Paul Nosak (R)
Individuals: 1
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ryan Leonard (R)
Individuals: 54
PACs: 1
Tribes: 2
Scott Pruitt (R)
Individuals: 20
PACs: 1
Jim Priest (D)
Individuals: 12
TREASURER
Ken Miller (R)
Individuals: 19
PACs: 3
Tribes: 2
Owen Laughlin (R)
Individuals: 3
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Janet Barresi (R)
Individuals: 17
PACs: 1
Tribes: 1
Susan Paddack (D)
Individuals: 7
PACs: 2
Tribes: 1
AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR
i-Steve Burrage (D)
Individuals: 12
Tribes: 1
Gary Jones (R)
Individuals: 1
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
i-Kim Holland (D)
Individuals: 13
PACs: 5
Tribes: 1
John Crawford (R)
Individuals: 3
John Doak (R)
Individuals: 2
LABOR COMMISSIONER
i-Lloyd Fields (D)
Individuals: 2
Jason Reese (R)
Individuals: 1
PACs: 1
CORPORATION COMMISSIONER
i-Dana Murphy (R)
Individuals: 18
PACs: 3
Source: Oklahoma Ethics Commission data through July 23, 2010; Data analysis by Staff Writers Paul Monies and John Estus
Written by Paul Monies
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[...] by stand pat in Politics 0 NewsOK Data Watch writers Paul Monies and John Estus have done some fabulouswork compiling data on maximum donors (individuals or PACs who gave the maximum allowable contribution of $5000 to a candidate) for this [...]
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Great data. Thanks for digging this up for us.