AP sources: Oklahoma’s lone congressional Democrat, Rep. Dan Boren, won’t seek re-election

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. — Rep. Dan Boren, the lone Democrat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation and the scion of one of the state’s most powerful men, will not seek re-election to a fourth term next year, three Democrats close to the congressman said Tuesday.

Boren, a conservative Democrat who comfortably won re-election last year despite big gains by Republicans nationwide, scheduled a news conference for later Tuesday in Muskogee to discuss his future plans. The Democrats who told The Associated Press of his plans did so on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss them before the news conference.

Cole Perryman, a spokesman for Boren, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Voters in Boren’s eastern Oklahoma district, which stretches from the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeastern Oklahoma to the Red River in the south, have consistently supported the conservative Democrat. His father, David Boren, is president of the University of Oklahoma and previously served as the state’s governor and as a senator.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ap-sources-oklahomas-lone-congressional-democrat-rep-dan-boren-wont-seek-re-election/2011/06/07/AG2ghELH_story.html

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Right when a certain New York Democrat is on the edge of losing his seat?

[RandySF]

1. If a Republican takes his seat

We won't see any real difference.

[DURHAM D]

3. Yap - no loss there.

[happyslug]

11. Yes, we will, one less vote for Polosi as Speaker

Conservative Democrats may oppose many things that is popular on DU, but they will vote for the Democratic Leadership for control of the House, and with that Control goes the power of setting the agenda. Remember the House was NOT the problem when it came to Health care, it was the Senate, the reason for that is the House Democratic Leadership (Voted for by this man) made sure the house was NOT the problem. The problem was the Senate and the refusal of the Democratic Leadership of the Senate to crack the whip on its Democratic Members AND use the power of being the Majority to get things passed.

Remember that, in a District that the choice of the Voters is a Republican or a Conservative Democrat, go with the Democrat, it strengthens the Democratic party as a whole and with that strength the push for progressive laws increase.

[RandySF]

12. Did he even vote for Pelosi last time?

I don't think so.

[DURHAM D]

2. Maybe he will change parties and run as the Repuke he actually is.

[brooklynite]

4. Time for the purists to say...let's elect a REAL PROGRESSIVE...

Please point one out to me who can get elected in OK.

[RandySF]

5. Boren wasn't just a conservative Democrat

He was a flat-out Republican with a (D) next to his name.

[alp227]

6. I'm not surprised, as southern Dems are more likely to be moderate/even conservative

given the influence of the surrounding area politics, and the same applies to some areas of the midwest too

[Ian David]

7. Oklahoma is the only state without a single "Blue" county.

Not one county went for Gore, Kerry or Obama.

[alp227]

8. and that helps kooks like Sally Kern thrive

yep, the Kern who said:

"Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it's the death knell of this country. I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam..." (2008)

and this year:

"We have a high percentage of blacks in prison, and that’s tragic, but are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school? I’ve taught school, and I saw a lot of people of color who didn’t study hard because they said the government would take care of them."

[BlueIris]

9. Yikes.

That is terrible.

[Blasphemer]

10. Yeah... I'm surprised there is even a single Democrat (albeit a Conservative one) from OK... nt

[guitar man]

13. Boren's a Democrat?

Who knew? :shrug:

[ipfilter]

14. It's bad here.

It's so bad most Democrats wouldn't even mention their party affiliation during the 2010 election cycle. The two bozos in the Senate win by margins of 70% and none of the counties carried Obama. I can count on 7 out of 10 fellow Oklahoma's being a conservative wingnut. This state is a red as a baboons ass.

[moondust]

15. You have my sympathy.

Frankly, I don't think I could live there. I sometimes wonder how strong the pressure is in everyday life to conform to the prevailing conservative/authoritarian norms and if it causes a person much grief just trying to get through the day and get things done.

:hi:

[moondust]

16. dupe