By Ray Carter

 

A group that lists no policy positions or staff members on its website continues to target Republican candidates in the August runoff election after having previously targeted conservative Republican incumbents in the June primary.

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Many of the incumbents targeted by the group, “OK Conservative Renewal, LLC,” notably sided with Gov. Kevin Stitt on various state-tribal disputes in recent years, a move that put them at odds with individuals such as Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., who has often been Stitt’s foremost public opponent when tribal-government interests have been at odds with state interests.

 

According to reports filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, OK Conservative Renewal has already spent $351,657 on primary and runoff elections this year.

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During the June primary election, OK Conservative Renewal tried to oust several incumbent Republican lawmakers, including state Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader of Piedmont, state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom of Adair, state Sen. Shane Jett of Shawnee, state Sen. Cody Rogers of Tulsa, and state Rep. Jim Olsen of Roland. All but Rogers prevailed in their re-election races, often by significant margins, while Rogers lost by a razor-thin margin.

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According to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affair’s legislative scorecard, Jett received a score of 100 out of 100 possible points in 2024 with higher scores given for voting the conservative position on rated legislation. Crosswhite Hader received a 97. Rogers received a 96. Bergstrom received a 95. Olsen scored 89.

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OK Conservative Renewal has continued to target Republican candidates in the August runoff election funding attacks on Republicans including Ron Lynch, a candidate in House District 60, based in Yukon.​​