Prominent Tulsa Republican Pol Switching to Dem

[Chicken Little]

/No, its not Michael Bates this time! []

from KRMG:

quote: OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -The state Senate gained a Democrat and lost a Republican today. Senator Nancy Riley says she's switching from the Republican to the Democratic Party because the G-O-P is being taken over by the extreme right wing. Riley says she was completely ignored by the Republican caucus during this year's legislative session. She believes her treatment is because of her moderate views and because she's a woman.

from Tulsa World:

quote:  Democrats hold a 25-23 majority in the Senate, making the lieutenant governor's race crucial. The lieutenant governor casts tie-breaking votes in the Senate.

Half of the Senate seats were up for election this fall. Five went uncontested -- three to Republicans, two to Democrats.

Riley garnered 23 percent of the vote in the July 25 Republican primary for lieutenant governor, forcing House Speaker Todd Hiett of Kellyville and Sen. Scott Pruitt of Broken Arrow into a runoff.  

[more]