OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislators returned to the State Capitol last Tuesday to hold a constitutionally-mandated one-day organizational session, elect their leadership and prepare for the first session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature, which begins in February.
The organizational day also featured a short joint session where members of both chambers formally accepted last November’s election returns.
In the Senate, Oklahoma City Republican Greg Treat was again named President Pro Tempore. This year’s marks Treat’s fifth session as the Senate’s Republican leader. Treat said he was “humbled beyond measure” to serve.
“I take this position very seriously and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate, across the rotunda in the House and the executive branch to ensure the decisions we are making are for the benefit of Oklahomans,” Treat said in a media statement. “The Senate is ready to meet all the challenges ahead and we look forward to making our state a better place for our families, friends and loved ones to thrive.”
Republicans hold a 41-8 supermajority in the Senate.
In addition to electing Treat, members of the Senate’s GOP caucus filed several other leadership roles. Those include: Greg McCortney (R-Ada), Floor Leader; Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle), Assistant Floor Leader; Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville), Assistant Floor Leader; Roger Thompson (R-Okemah), Appropriations Chair; Chuck Hall (R-Perry), Appropriations Vice Chair; Casey Murdock (R-Felt), Whip; Bill Coleman (R-Ponca City), Assistant Whip; Dewayne Pemberton (R-Muskogee), Assistant Whip; Cody Rogers (R-Tulsa), Assistant Whip; Dave Rader (R-Tulsa), Republican Caucus Chair; David Bullard (R-Durant), Republican Caucus Vice Chairman; Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher), Rural Caucus Chair and Brent Howard (R-Altus), Chief Presiding Officer.
Senate Democrats again chose Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City as the chamber’s minority leader. Floyd said Democrats would continue to serve “as an important check and balance in the legislative process.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to my fellow Democratic Caucus members for choosing me to continue as their leader,” she said in a media statement. “Our caucus will continue to support legislation and positions that reflect the diverse priorities and concerns of our constituency and our great state.”
House Leadership features many familiar faces
In the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Charles McCall, a Republican from Atoka, was named Speaker for a fourth term. McCall’s election makes him the longest-serving Speaker of the House in state history.
Previously, the record was held by Democrat J.D. McCarty of Waurika, who served as Speaker from 1960 through 1966.
McCall said he didn’t take the role of Speaker lightly.
“During my time in the House, we have worked together to lay the foundation for a stronger Oklahoma,” he said. “We have made great strides toward improving government efficiency, bolstering our economy and improving education within our state, but more work remains to be done. Over these next two years I look forward to working together with my colleagues in the House, as well as our counterparts in the Senate and executive branch, as we continue to move Oklahoma forward.”
Along with McCall, the House’s Republican Caucus announced its leadership team. That group includes: Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City); Deputy Floor Leader John Pfeiffer (R-Orlando);Deputy Floor Leader Steve Bashore (R-Miami); Assistant Floor Leader Mark McBride (R-Moore); Assistant Floor Leader Josh West (R-Grove); Assistant Floor Leader Kevin West (R-Moore); Assistant Floor Leader Brian Hill (R-Mustang); Majority Leader Tammy West (R-Oklahoma City); Appropriations & Budget Committee Chair Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston); Appropriations & Budget Committee Vice Chair Ryan Martinez (R-Edmond); and Majority Whip Terry O’Donnell (R-Catoosa).
House Democrats, who added an additional member to their caucus last November, named Rep. Cyndi Munson as House Minority Leader. Munson becomes the first Asian-American serve as Minority Leader in the Oklahoma Legislature.
She replaces outgoing Minority Leader Emily Virgin (D-Norman), who was forced to retire from office due to term limits.
“I hope all Oklahoma girls of every kind of background can look at today and know that they can be whatever they dream or aspire to be,” Munson said.
Like the Senate, Republicans in the Oklahoma House of Representatives control a supermajority. In the House the GOP holds 81 seats while Democrats have 20.
In addition to Munson, state Reps. Trish Ranson (D-Stillwater) and John Waldron (D-Tulsa) were elected by their colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to serve as the Democratic Leader, Caucus Chair, and Caucus Vice-Chair-Secretary, respectively. Representative Melissa Provenzano, D-Tula, was selected by Munson to serve as the Assistant Democratic Leader.
Munson said Rep. Andy Fugate (D-Del City) would serve as Democratic Floor Leader, while Rep. Regina Goodwin (D-Tulsa) would hold the post of Assistant Democratic Floor Leader.
State Rep. Mickey Dollens was chosen as House Democratic Whip.
State lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday, Feb. 6 for the first session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature.