Oklahoma Dems losing power

State Dems losing power
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

Republicans control most of the state's largest and fastest-growing legislative districts, a trend that could magnify recent Democratic losses in the Oklahoma House and Senate if it continues through redistricting following the 2010 census.

"If it stays the way it is, it's going to hit us hard and we know it," said Ivan Holmes, state Democratic Party chairman.

University of Oklahoma political science professor Keith Gaddie said, "It's going to be hard to draw districts without carving out some new Republican seats. Southeastern Oklahoma is going to lose one Senate district and maybe two."

Southeastern Oklahoma is one of the state's most steadfastly Democratic areas.

Legislative seats are based on population, not voter registration, but Gaddie said registration is a good indicator of population shifts.

According to state Election Board records through July 14, Republicans outnumber Democrats in seven of the eight fastest-growing state Senate districts in terms of new voters.

The remaining district, Senate District 24, is the fastest growing in the state and is rapidly moving toward the GOP column. Stretching from Moore to Duncan in south-central Oklahoma, it added nearly 5,000 voters from 2006 to mid-2008. More than 60 percent of those were Republicans.

"Most people want to be with people like them," said Gaddie. "When you see areas of growth, the growth is usually going to be (people who are) alike."

Similarly, eight of the state's nine largest Senate districts by registration have more Republicans than Democrats, with District 24 again the lone exception. Nine of the 10 smallest districts, and 13 of the smallest 15, are Democratic.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans outnumber Democrats in 22 of the 24 largest districts and 13 of the 16 fastest-growing districts by voter registration.

Nine of the 10 smallest House Districts and 19 of the smallest 22 are Democratic.

Most of the districts with large voter registration increases are in suburban areas, especially in or adjacent to metropolitan Oklahoma City, while many of the districts losing voters are in older, urban neighborhoods.

Growing Senate districts in addition to District 24 include District 22 (Kingfisher and Yukon), District 47 and District 41 (Edmond).

The Tulsa area's fastest growing districts are District 34 (Owasso) and District 36 (Broken Arrow). District 34, represented by Republican Sen. Randy Brogdon, gained 2,650 voters over the two-year period, including 1,689 Republicans and 512 Democrats.

District 36, represented by Republican Sen. Bill Brown, gained 2,391 voters, including 1,431 Republicans and 629 Democrats.

The fastest-growing area House district was District 74 (Owasso and Catoosa), held by Republican Rep. David Derby. It grew by 10.1 percent, or 2,475 voters, with 1,485 of those Republicans.

Seventy-seven of 101 House districts gained voters from 2006 to mid-2008. One district had no change and 23 lost voters. Eighteen of the 23 losing districts had more Democrats than Republicans, although the party registration trends were mixed in the losing districts.

The biggest loss was 776 voters in House District 93 in south Oklahoma City. Districts 23, 72, 73 and 77 in north and east Tulsa were among the 10 districts losing the most voters.

Oklahoma City's Senate District 44 and Tulsa's Senate District 11 both lost more than 1,300 voters. Six of the 10 Senate districts losing the most voters had more Democrats than Republicans.



Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com