Latest news with #OklahomaRepublicanParty
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supreme Court weighs voter rights and party autonomy in constitutional challenge to SQ836
The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard oral arguments over a challenge to SQ 836, an initiative that would create open primaries, allowing all voters to participate regardless of party affiliation. The Oklahoma Republican Party and other plaintiffs are suing to declare the measure, also known as Initiative Petition 448, unconstitutional before it reaches voters. Vice Chief Justice Dana Kuehn said constitutional authority ultimately rests with voters. 'My question is, does our constitution directly state that the people get to vote on these measures before the court can actually make a determination on the constitutionality of something, do you agree?' Kuehn said. Robert McCampbell, attorney for the pro-836 petitioners, agreed, referencing constitutional principles of citizen petition rights. 'Our constitution comes very close to those exact words,' he said. Benjamin P. Sisney, attorney for the Republican Party, argued that 836 represents a 'radical shift' in Oklahoma's electoral system. According to Sisney, the initiative would create 'a so-called 'open primary' but which is actually a system where individuals can register themselves as candidates of and can affiliate themselves with a political party and the ambience and auspices of that party and its name with no affirmation of its platform or values.' Justices questioned the timing of challenging the measure before voters have decided on it. Tony Stobbe, an independent voter and military veteran, advocated for the initiative, saying that the current system excludes nearly half a million independent voters from meaningful participation. 'Fundamentally, I come down to brass taxes,' Stobbe said, expressing his desire to participate in the elections that his taxes fund. Oklahoma ranks among the nation's lowest in voter participation, with 436,041 registered independents as of January 2024 unable to vote in primaries that can decide elections. In sheriff races across Oklahoma's 77 counties, fewer than 10 featured both Republican and Democratic candidates in the general election, meaning most races were decided in closed Republican primaries. 'I would like every citizen of the state of Oklahoma, Republican, Democrat, 480,000 independents, Green Party. I don't care to be able to go to the polls on primary day and cast a vote in the election that actually currently matters,' Stobbe said. 'I just want to be clear, I don't see this as republican or democrat issues. I just think it's an issue just to cast a ballot,' he said. Robert McCampbell, attorney for the pro-836 petitioners, argued that the initiative preserves party rights while ensuring taxpayers aren't forced to fund exclusive nomination processes. 'The parties – they retain all of their first amendment rights,' McCampbell said, noting parties can select candidates through any method 'except for one.' 'A political party cannot force the taxpayers to pay for their nomination process,' McCampbell said. McCampbell clarified that under the proposed system, voters wouldn't be selecting party nominees but rather advancing candidates to the general election. 'The bottom line is, under IP 448, the voters are not selecting a nominee for a political party. The voters are voting for candidates to advance, and there is no interference with the party's first amendment rights,' he said. Opposition to the measure includes gubernatorial candidate Charles McCall, who has vowed to defend against it if elected. McCall said it sounded like 'California Chaos,' arguing in a press release Tuesday that 'California's top-two primaries have left voters with limited choices and often two Democrats on the general election ballot.' 'We cannot let that happen here,' McCall said. If approved, SQ836 would establish a single primary election where all candidates appear on one ballot with their party registration displayed alongside a disclaimer that registration 'does not imply the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the political party.' The top two vote-getters would advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. The measure would cover statewide positions, county offices, district attorney, state legislature members, and congressional representatives while excluding Presidential Elector, municipal offices, judicial positions, and school board members. In Cleveland County, the change would affect elections for 185,554 registered voters, including 41,832 independents and over 2,000 libertarians currently excluded from Republican primaries. For the 2024-2025 election cycle, the Democratic Party opened its primaries to independents, while Republican and Libertarian parties maintained closed primaries. The constitutional amendment would take effect 90 days after approval and would repeal Article 3, Section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution while preserving the current Presidential Elector nomination system. Oklahoma recorded the nation's lowest voter turnout in both the 2020 and 2024 November elections.
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Trump gives a shoutout to OKC restaurant serving 'TRUMP' and 'MAGA' burgers in viral video
Hear this story The owner of an OKC burger restaurant received a special message from the president of the United States, leaving him "floored." Mike Laham, owner of Little Mike's Hamburgers in northwest Oklahoma City and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, sells burgers that stand out with the words "TRUMP" and "MAGA WINS" branded on the buns. The burgers have been a hit with customers since he began the practice around two years ago, and more than 700 were sold on Inauguration Day. But his customers aren't the only ones taking notice of the burgers, sold at the Oklahoma City restaurant that's been in business since 1978. This week, Trump gave a shoutout to Little Mike's Hamburgers in a video that's since gone viral on social media. OKC restaurant owner says he was 'flabbergasted' over Trump shoutout Through his involvement with the Oklahoma Republican Party, Laham has become friends with Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford. Lankford eats at Little Mike's when he can, and showed the branded burgers off to President Trump himself. Last week, Lankford sent Laham a text message asking if he was sitting down. "I said, 'Yes,'" Laham said. "And then he brought up that video. And of course, I was floored. I was flabbergasted." In the video, taken by Lankford with wife Cindy Lankford in the background, the president thanked Laham for his support and promised to stop by for a burger sometime. "Your hamburgers look fantastic," Trump said. "My man, my senator, he's a great senator, he was just showing me your hamburger with the little stamp on it. Thank you very much, I appreciate the support and when I'm out there I'm stopping at your place." Trump video brings in new business for OKC restaurant When Laham decided to begin using the branded burger buns, he said he felt he was putting his business "on the line for my beliefs." "And you know, people can take it or leave it," Laham said, but it has been a largely positive response from his customers. Business has also increased since the video of Trump was posted, Laham said, which had more than 190,000 views on TikTok as of Wednesday afternoon. "We got a lot of new customers that said they saw the video and they just wanted to try it," Laham. "And, 'We're for Trump, and we wanted to come and eat with you,' and all that." As for the idea of Trump visiting his restaurant, Laham said that would finish his bucket list. "That would be, you know, I just don't know what I'd do," Laham said. "But you know, when he says something, he usually does it. And if he comes to Oklahoma City, I'm sure James Lankford will make sure he comes in."
