OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Hoping to build on huge gains in the 2010 elections, Republicans are setting their sights on the last large swatch of Democratic blue in Oklahoma — the state's sprawling 2nd Congressional District seat in eastern Oklahoma.
Thrown open last summer when U.S. Representative Dan Boren announced plans to not seek a fifth term, six Republicans are looking to flip the only Democrat-held seat in the state's congressional delegation from blue to red.
The Republicans are three-term state Representative George Faught of Muskogee; business owner Markwayne Mullin of Westville; former Edmond state Representative Wayne Pettigrew of McAlester; attorney and former Tishomingo Mayor Dustin Rowe; Fort Gibson minister Dwayne Thompson and retired Marine Corps officer Dakota Wood.
Three Democrats and an independent also are seeking the seat.