Bill to move 2016 Presidential Primary dies in committee

SB233, which would have moved Oklahoma's Presidential Primary from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in April fourth Tuesday in March (they amended it back to the original wording), has been defeated in the State House Elections & Ethics Committee this morning.

The vote was 2 in favor, 5 opposed. The bill had been advocated for by OKGOP Chairman Dave Weston, but received strong opposition from many grassroots activists. Both Randy Brogdon and Pam Pollard, who are running against Weston for OKGOP Chair, were against the measure.

Voting in favor of the bill were Reps. Banz (R) and Joyner (R). Voting against it were Reps. Condit (D), Dank (R), Perryman (D), Rogers (R), and Wesselhoft (R).

This is a victory for keeping Oklahoma more engaged and relevant in the 2016 presidential primary.