Dems consider reprimands for members; ex-officials draw fire for crossing party lines to support AG candidate

The Oklahoma Democratic Party this year condemned more than two dozen current and former elected Democrats for publicly supporting Republican candidates in the 2018 election.

The party took steps to reprimand a slate of party members, including former governors, attorneys general, and current and former state legislators.

The party’s central committee in January voted to have one of its own — former Gov. David Walters — express the party’s disappointment to more than two dozen Democrats who endorsed Attorney General Mike Hunter, a Republican, over his Democratic opponent Mark Myles.

In September, Hunter’s campaign announced a “Democrats for Hunter” coalition that included former Govs. Brad Henry and George Nigh, former U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, former Attorneys General Mike Turpen and Robert Henry, former House Speaker Loyd Benson, prominent banker Gene Rainbolt and Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater.