Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell has come out in opposition to a push for open primary elections. The announcement for open primaries came from a group called Oklahoma United, who held a press conference at the Oklahoma History Center to kick off an initiative petition drive.
Pinnell criticized the push for open primaries, calling it a solution in search of a problem and accusing it of being a thinly veiled attempt to weaken Republican voters in choosing nominees. He emphasized Oklahoma’s conservative values, pointing out that the state overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in the last election.
As a former Republican state party chairman, Pinnell expressed hope that the current primary structure would encourage independents and conservative Democrats to register as Republicans and participate in choosing nominees.
This stance by the lieutenant governor underscores the deep partisan divide in Oklahoma, where Republicans hold all statewide and federally elected positions and super majorities in the legislature. Pinnell’s opposition to open primaries highlights the importance of the current system in preserving the balance of power and representation in the state. The debate over primary election processes continues to be a contentious issue in Oklahoma politics.
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