To Paraphrase Mark Twain...

…the report of the death of the Teacher Caucus has been greatly exaggerated. I’m not sure who named the collective of teachers and family members who decided to run for office, but I’ll stick with this phrase. I like it. It has a ring to it.

Talk about the classic David and Goliath story…incumbents, members of the machine, rich war chests, contacts, rolodexes full of names and numbers. Up against teachers and family, fed up with the neglect, sick of the disrespect. Tired of the funding cuts. Teachers and family, mostly political newcomers, some without the support of their own parties, funded by friends and neighbors, learning how to negotiate the world of politics on the fly, in real time. Inexperienced, unfunded novices. So, how did they do? Not bad at all.

There were 52 educators or family who chose to run for House of Representatives spots…19 Republicans, 32 Democrats, and one Independent.

This is our original list of candidates: 

HD	Name	Website	Party	Educator	Primary	Nov
2	Tom Sites	http://www.tomstitesforok.com/	R	Adjunct		*
3	Troy Dyer		D	Yes		*
4	Matt Meredith	http://www.mattmeredithok.com/	D	SchBd		*
5	Joe Wilhelm III	http://wilhelmforoklahoma.com/bio/	R	Yes	Lost
8	Rick Kibbe	http://www.kibbecares.com/	R	Yes	Lost	*
9	Richelle Helbig	http://helbigforhouse.org/	R	Yes	Lost
12	Darla Milligan	http://www.darlamilligan.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
13	Wayne Herriman		D	Daughter		*
14	Lee Ann Langston	http://www.leeannlangston.com/	D	Yes		*
20	(Gregory) Matt Failing	http://mattfailing.com/	D	Former		*
25	David Weir	http://votedavidweir.com/	D	Yes		*
27	Trey Baker	http://www.vote4treybaker.com/	R	Spouse	Lost
28	Yasminda Choate	http://www.yasmindachoate.com/	D	Higher Ed	Lost
29	Macy Gleason	http://www.macygleason.com/	D	Parents	Won	*
30	Mike Gambill	http://john-m-gambill.ruck.us/	R	Yes	Lost
33	Caryl Talley		D	Yes		*
33	Connie Parker	http://www.parkerforrepresentative.com/	R	Yes	Lost
42	Liz George	http://lizforoklahoma.com/	D	Higher Ed		*
42	Jim Beckham	http://jimforthehouse.com/	R	Yes	Lost $$
43	Mike Bounds		D	Spouse	Won	*
46	Jacob Rosecrants	http://jacobrosecrants.com/	D	Yes		*
46	Marilyn Goll		R	Yes	Lost
49	Michelle Bray	http://www.michellebraydistrict49.com/	D	Yes		*
50	Melissa Tilley	http://melissatilley.org/	D	Yes		*
52	John Thomas	http://johnthomasforhouse52.weebly.com/	R	SchBd	Lost
58	Rochelle Covington	http://covingtonforhouse.com/	R	Daughter	Lost
60	Chad Slane	http://www.slanefor60.com/	R	Yes	RO	?
60	Patrick Case	http://www.thecaseforeducation.org/	R	Yes	Lost
60	Rhonda Baker	http://www.rhondabakerforok.com/	R	Yes	RO	?
62	Ruby Peters	http://www.rubypetersforhd62.com/	D	Yes	Lost
63	Randy Batt	http://randylbatt.com/	D	Yes		*
64	Jacobi Crowley	http://jacobicrowley.com/	D	Yes		WON
65	Rick Gilleland	http://www.rickforrepok.com/about-rick.html	D	Spouse		*
66	Dianna Phillips	http://www.phillipsfor66.com/	D	Higher Ed	Lost
67	John Croisant	http://www.johncroisant.com/home	R	Yes	Lost
67	Tom McCloud	http://www.mccloud4oklahoma.com/home	R	Spouse	RO	?
72	Monroe Nichols	http://www.monroeforoklahoma.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
75	Karen Gaddis	http://www.karengaddis.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
76	Glenda Puett	http://www.glendapuett.com/	D	Yes		*
80	Tom Bates	http://bates4ok80.wix.com/2016	D	Yes		*
81	Lyle Walters	http://www.lylewalters.com/	D	Parents	Lost
82	David Dickerson	http://www.dickersonforok.com/	I	Yes		*
83	Jason Stone	http://stonefor83.weebly.com/	D	Higher Ed		*
84	Tammy West	http://www.tammywesthouse84.com/#home	R	SchBd	Won	*
84	Donnie Ryan	http://www.ryanforrep2016.com/	R	Spouse	Lost
87	Kelly Meredith	http://www.kellymeredithforok.com/	D	Higher Ed	Lost
93	Mickey Dollens	http://mickeydollens.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
95	James Cook		D	Higher Ed		*
100	Jeremy Miller	http://www.jmillerhd100.com/	D	Yes		*
100	Donald Wentroth	http://www.donwentroth.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
101	Cheryl M-Hessman	http://www.cherylmooneyhamhessman.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
101	Johnny Jump	http://www.jumpforstatehouse.com/	R	Yes	Lost

In the House races, 20 candidates had no primary challenger and are set for their races in November. Nine won their primaries, 19 lost, and three are in run-off races next month.  One candidate who lost, Jim Beckham, was a target of the Oklahoma Federation for Children Action Fund, a pro-voucher foundation that spent big in several districts, sending almost identical attack mailers to voters in the districts. This group is headed by Jennifer Carter, former Chief of Staff for the former Superintendent, Janet Barresi, and her husband is an editorial writer for the Daily Disappointment Oklahoman.  Ironic that inexperienced, unfunded, unconnected teachers needed the big guns leveled at them.

So, 20 of the 52 candidates move on to November…and three will learn their fates in August. 

In the Senate, 13 Republican educators or family members ran, 12 Democrats and one Independent.  Fifteen of the 26 candidates will be on the November ballot, with five in August run-offs.

Here is the original Senate list:

SD	Name	Website	Party	Educator	Primary	Nov
1	Michael Bergstrom		R	Yes	Won	*
3	Rhonda Cox	http://www.rhondacox.net/home.html	D	Yes		*
5	Stacy Ebert		D	Yes	Won	*
9	Jack Reavis	http://jackreavis.com/index.html	D	Yes	Won	*
9	Dewayne Pemberton	http://www.pembertonforsenate.com/	R	Yes	Won	*
13	Eric Hall	http://erichallforsenate.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
13	Greg McCortney	http://www.gregmccortney.com/home	R	Spouse	RO	?
15	Shawn Sheehan	http://www.sheehanforok.com/	I	Yes		*
19	Rhonda Harlow	http://www.harlow4oksenate.com/	D	Yes		*
19	Roland Pederson	http://www.rolandforsenate.com/	R	Yes	RO	?
23	Kevin Crow	http://jwtopper.wix.com/crowfor23	R	HigherEd	Lost
23	Lonnie Paxton	http://lonniepaxton.com/	R	Spouse	RO	?
25	Lisa Kramer	http://www.votekramer.com/	R	ScBd	RO $$
29	Robert Jobe	http://jobeforstatesenate29.com/	D	Yes		*
29	Jean Oliver	http://www.oliverforoklahoma.com/	R	Yes	Lost $$
31	Chris Kidd	http://www.chriskiddforsenate.com/about.php	R	Former	RO	?
31	Toni Hasenbeck	http://tonihasenbeck.com/	R	Yes	RO	?
37	Lloyd Snow	http://snow4ok.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
37	Brian Jackson	https://sites.google.com/site/ivotejackson/home	R	Spouse	Lost
39	John Waldron	http://www.waldron4ok.com/	D	Yes		*
41	Kevin McDonald	http://www.mcdonaldforok.com/	D	Yes		*
43	Leah Pollan	http://www.leahpollan.com/	D	Parents		*
43	Paul Scott	http://www.scott4oksenate.com/	R	Spouse	Won	*
45	Mike Mason	http://www.votemikemason.com/	R	Yes	Lost $$
47	Judy Hopper	http://www.judymullenhopper.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
47	Don Sherry	http://www.sherryforstatesenate.com/	D	Niece	Lost

Eight members of the “Teacher Caucus” won their elections, five lost. Of those, two candidates were victims of dark money…Jean Oliver lost her race, and Lisa Kramer is in a runoff.

My favorite campaign story involves the two Democrats running in SD 47. Don Sherry lost, and immediately donated his remaining campaign funds to the victorious Judy Hopper. That's what educators and their family do. Support each other.

There was much crowing from one Senator who beat a teacher candidate…with dark money from OK Federation for Children. He tried to spin his 55% win as a mandate for vouchers. He conveniently forgot to tell us he only pulled in 2800 votes. Reports are that OFC paid $801 for mailers to attack his opponent…so each vote cost them $3.52. No, Senator Loveless, you did not win a mandate. You and your name recognition only garnered 2816 votes in your own district. You escaped.

So, the Teacher Caucus did take some blows, and we lost some strong educators who would have been strong legislators. But many in both parties are still alive, still campaigning, and still reminding the incumbents that we are here. We want change.

Even the candidates who lost have learned. They’ve gained valuable, important wisdom if they decide to run again. Or work on a campaign, or advocate. I started with an allusion to David and Goliath…and I’ll close with one to Don Quixiote. Some of the candidates may have tilted with some windmills, but even in defeat, they learned. It’s my guess many of them will be back, forewarned, stronger, and more determined.

Here are the updated lists of Teacher Caucus candidates...

House Candidates for August (Runoff) and November

HD	Name	Website	Party	Educator	Primary
2	Tom Sites	http://www.tomstitesforok.com/	R	Adjunct
3	Troy Dyer		D	Yes
4	Matt Meredith	http://www.mattmeredithok.com/	D	SchBd
12	Darla Milligan	http://www.darlamilligan.com/	D	Yes	Won
13	Wayne Herriman		D	Daughter
14	L A Langston	http://www.leeannlangston.com/	D	Yes
20	Matt Failing	http://mattfailing.com/	D	Former
25	David Weir	http://votedavidweir.com/	D	Yes
29	Macy Gleason	http://www.macygleason.com/	D	Parents	Won
33	Caryl Talley		D	Yes
42	Liz George	http://lizforoklahoma.com/	D	Higher Ed
43	Mike Bounds		D	Spouse	Won
46	Jacob Rosecrants	http://jacobrosecrants.com/	D	Yes
49	Michelle Bray	http://www.michellebraydistrict49.com/	D	Yes
50	Melissa Tilley	http://melissatilley.org/	D	Yes
60	Chad Slane	http://www.slanefor60.com/	R	Yes	RO
60	Rhonda Baker	http://www.rhondabakerforok.com/	R	Yes	RO
64	Jacobi Crowley	http://jacobicrowley.com/	D	Yes
65	Rick Gilleland	http://www.rickforrepok.com/about-rick.html	D	Spouse
67	Tom McCloud	http://www.mccloud4oklahoma.com/home	R	Spouse	RO
72	Monroe Nichols	http://www.monroeforoklahoma.com/	D	Yes	Won
75	Karen Gaddis	http://www.karengaddis.com/	D	Yes	Won
76	Glenda Puett	http://www.glendapuett.com/	D	Yes
80	Tom Bates	http://bates4ok80.wix.com/2016	D	Yes
82	David Dickerson	http://www.dickersonforok.com/	I	Yes
83	Jason Stone	http://stonefor83.weebly.com/	D	Higher Ed
84	Tammy West	http://www.tammywesthouse84.com/#home	R	SchBd	Won
93	Mickey Dollens	http://mickeydollens.com/	D	Yes	Won
95	James Cook		D	Higher Ed
100	Jeremy Miller	http://www.jmillerhd100.com/	D	Yes
100	Donald Wentroth	http://www.donwentroth.com/	D	Yes	Won
101	Cheryl Hessman	http://www.cherylmooneyhamhessman.com/	D	Yes	Won

The Teacher Caucus slate of Senate candidates is:

SD	Name	Website	Party	Educator	Primary	Nov
1	Michael Bergstrom		R	Yes	Won	*
3	Rhonda Cox	http://www.rhondacox.net/home.html	D	Yes		*
5	Stacy Ebert		D	Yes	Won	*
9	Jack Reavis	http://jackreavis.com/index.html	D	Yes	Won	*
9	Dewayne Pemberton	http://www.pembertonforsenate.com/	R	Yes	Won	*
13	Eric Hall	http://erichallforsenate.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
13	Greg McCortney	http://www.gregmccortney.com/home	R	Spouse	RO
15	Shawn Sheehan	http://www.sheehanforok.com/	I	Yes		*
19	Rhonda Harlow	http://www.harlow4oksenate.com/	D	Yes		*
19	Roland Pederson	http://www.rolandforsenate.com/	R	Yes	RO
23	Lonnie Paxton	http://lonniepaxton.com/	R	Spouse	RO
25	Lisa Kramer	http://www.votekramer.com/	R	ScBd	RO $$
29	Robert Jobe	http://jobeforstatesenate29.com/	D	Yes		*
31	Chris Kidd	http://www.chriskiddforsenate.com/about.php	R	Former	RO
31	Toni Hasenbeck	http://tonihasenbeck.com/	R	Yes	RO
37	Lloyd Snow	http://snow4ok.com/	D	Yes	Won	*
39	John Waldron	http://www.waldron4ok.com/	D	Yes		*
41	Kevin McDonald	http://www.mcdonaldforok.com/	D	Yes		*
43	Leah Pollan	http://www.leahpollan.com/	D	Parents		*
43	Paul Scott	http://www.scott4oksenate.com/	R	Spouse	Won	*
47	Judy Hopper	http://www.judymullenhopper.com/	D	Yes	Won	*

Voters…you have some work to do. First, find out if you have a runoff election. If you do, research your candidates and vote #oklaed. Then, get to know the candidates in your district for the general election.  Go to their meetings, email them. Find candidates you can support with your time and your money. They will need both. Be active. Be there.

Then, VOTE. Despite our hopes, turnout for the primaries was still too low. That is unacceptable. If this Teacher Caucus is taking this risk for our students, we must show up to vote.

As always, I welcome corrections!