Brad Henry

Last updated

In the 2002 election for governor, Henry defeated State Senator Enoch Kelly Haney and businessman Vince Orza in the primary election. In the general election, he defeated former Republican Congressman Steve Largent, an NFL Hall of Famer, by just over one-half of one percent of the vote, in a race that also included Independent candidate Gary Richardson, a retired federal prosecutor. Henry received 448,143 votes (43.27%) to Largent's 441,277 votes (42.61%). Richardson, a former Republican candidate, received 146,200 votes (14%). [6]

Henry ran a campaign of "barnstorming" rural areas, and stopping at Wal-Mart stores in an RV with supporters. Henry was endorsed by football coach Barry Switzer, who has widespread popularity in Oklahoma and accompanied Henry to many campaign events.

On the policy side of the campaign, Henry branded himself as the "education governor." He argued for increasing teachers' salaries and funding for higher education in the state by approving a state lottery to raise money.

2006

In the Democratic Party primary election on July 25, 2006, Henry received 218,712 votes, 86% of the vote. [7]

In the November 7 general election, Henry faced Fifth District U.S. Congressman Republican Ernest Istook and won with 66% of the vote. [2] He won with a higher total than any gubernatorial candidate in almost fifty years. [8] He only lost the three counties of the Panhandle, and won by large margins in a number of counties that normally vote Republican.

Governor of Oklahoma

Brad Henry
US Navy 071207-N-4965F-027 The Honorable Brad Henry, Governor of Oklahoma, delivers his remarks during a joint Oklahoma Memorial Committee-National Park Service dedication ceremony for battleship USS Oklahoma (BB 3.jpg
Henry in 2007
26th Governor of Oklahoma
In office
January 13, 2003 –January 10, 2011
The Cabinet of Governor Brad Henry
OfficeNameTerm
Governor Brad Henry2003–2011
Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin 2003–2007
Jari Askins 2007–2011
Secretary of State M. Susan Savage 2003–2011
Attorney General Drew Edmondson 2003–2011
State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan 2003–2008
Steve Burrage 2008–2011
State Treasurer Robert Butkin 2003–2005
Scott Meacham 2005–2011
Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher2003–2005
Kim Holland 2005–2011
Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau 2003–2007
Lloyd Fields 2007–2011
Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett 2003–2011
Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach 2003–2011
Secretary of Commerce and Tourism Kathy Taylor 2003–2006
Natalie Shirley 2006–2011
Secretary of Education vacant2003–2011
Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker 2003–2008
Bobby Wegener 2008–2011
Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert 2003–2008
J.D. Strong 2008–2011
Secretary of Finance and Revenue Scott Meacham 2005–2011
Secretary of Health Tom Adelson 2003–2004
Terry Cline 2004–2007
Mike Crutcher 2007–2009
Terri White 2009–2011
Secretary of Human Resources Oscar B. Jackson Jr. 2003–2011
Secretary of Human Services Howard Hendrick 2003–2011
Secretary of the Military Harry M. Wyatt III 2003–2009
Myles Deering 2009–2011
Secretary of Safety and Security Bob Ricks 2003
Kevin L. Ward 2004–2011
Secretary of Science and Technology Joseph W. Alexander 2004–2011
Secretary of Transportation Phil Tomlinson 2003–2009
Gary Ridley 2009–2011
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb 2003–2011

Henry was sworn in as Oklahoma's 26th governor on January 13, 2003, with the oath of office being administered by his cousin, federal appeals court judge Robert Harlan Henry. [9] As governor, he was a member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors' Association, and the Democratic Governors Association. He was the president of the Council of State Governments in 2007. [10]

Henry was generally seen as a moderate Democrat. [11] [12] Henry is pro-choice and has vetoed legislation to mandate ultrasound viewings prior to abortion procedures. He has a mixed view of racial affirmative action, supporting it in college and graduate schools, but not in hiring for the bureaucracy. Henry supports expanding public healthcare and holding HMOs accountable for poor care; however, he also is in favor of upholding the death penalty and is against gun control. The governor supports tax cuts for the lower and middle classes and believes in keeping the income tax; he also supports using the "War on Drugs" strategy to combat methamphetamine use within his state. [12]

Henry made national headlines by giving sanctuary from the controversial redistricting warrant to Texas Democrats in that state's legislature by allowing them to travel across state lines into Oklahoma en masse to deny a quorum for voting on a redistricting plan. "Our position is that, without a warrant signed by a judge, we have no authority. Even under those circumstances, we are hesitant to get pulled into a Texas political battle. If we're going to do battle with Texas, we prefer that it be on the football field," Henry said through his spokesman. [13]

On May 27, 2004, Governor Brad Henry issued Executive Order 04-21, which created the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council. [14] The Ethnic American Advisory Council then published an English translation of the Quran embossed with the Oklahoma State seal which was then distributed to 149 Oklahoma state legislators. [15] There were 35 lawmakers who declined to accept the copy of the Quran that they were offered. [16] After refusing the copy of the Quran, Republican State Representative Rex Duncan wrote a letter to his colleagues explaining, "Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology." [17]

In 2003, Henry signed bills into law that: made downloading child pornography a crime, strengthened the financial oversight of HMOs by the state, created a $300,000 cap on noneconomic damages for obstetric and emergency room cases except in wrongful death cases or if negligence is shown and made other changes to regulate medical liability actions, penalized predatory lending, authorized payday lending, and placed a moratorium on the sale of water from a sole source aquifer. [18] He also was a strong supporter of a ballot proposal to establish a statewide lottery to benefit schools. [18]

Henry with FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison, 2008 FEMA - 35188 - FEMA Administrator Paulison with Governor Henry in Oklahoma.jpg
Henry with FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison, 2008

In 2004, he signed a bill into law that set out a total of $2,100 in across-the-board salary increases for state employees, public school teachers and state troopers. [19] He also signed legislation to limit the sale of pseudoephedrine used to make crystal meth. [19]

In 2008, he vetoed an anti-abortion measure which required, among other things, women to get an ultrasound before having an abortion. The veto was overridden and was the first override in Oklahoma since 1994, when Gov. David Walters was in office. [20] That law was struck down by a state district court, but passed again in April 2010, whereupon Henry again vetoed it. [21] His veto was again overridden. [22] However, that same year, Henry signed legislation that would prevent women from getting abortions based on the gender of the fetus, require that only qualified physicians administer mifepristone and protect employees who refuse to participate in abortions. [23]

Despite high job approval ratings and avoidance of controversy, Oklahoma voters approved a term limit holding the governor to a total length of time of eight years in office. The law already provided for a term limit of two consecutive terms for the governor. This effectively prohibited Henry, then 47, from making a comeback attempt at a later date. [24]

Oklahoma Supreme Court appointments

Governor Henry appointed the following Justices to the Oklahoma Supreme Court:

Budget proposals

Governor Henry submitted the following budgets to the Oklahoma Legislature: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Post-gubernatorial career

Henry was seen as a candidate for President of the University of Central Oklahoma. [25] However, the state's largest newspapers, The Daily Oklahoman and The Tulsa World, both editorialized against the appointment of Henry as UCO president by the UCO Board of Regents, which was appointed by Henry. Another candidate, Don Betz, was named to the position. Henry was considered a likely choice to be Dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. However, U.S. Federal Magistrate Valerie Couch was appointed. As governor, Henry appointed 5 members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and delivered the 2010 commencement address at the OCU School of Law.

In 2013, supporters had asked Henry to run in the 2014 elections against incumbent Republican governor Mary Fallin, but he declined. [26] However, Henry said the term limit initiative voters passed didn't apply to him as he had already been term limited by the State Constitution before the proposition was approved. [27] Henry was considered a contender for the 2014 U.S. Senate Special Election, [28] but ultimately did not run. He would also be sought out for the election for a full term 2 years later, but again, was not a candidate. [29]

On June 8, 2016, Henry joined the law firm Spencer Fane. [30]

Election results

2002

Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2002 results map. Red denotes counties won by Steve Largent, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry. Oklahoma 2002 gubernatorial election map.svg
Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2002 results map. Red denotes counties won by Steve Largent, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry.
Summary of the 2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election results
CandidatesPartyVotes%
  Brad Henry Democratic Party 448,14343.27%
  Steve Largent Republican Party 441,27742.61%
  Gary Richardson Independent 146,20014.12%
Total1,035,620100.0%
Source: 2002 Election Results

2006

Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2006 results map. Red denotes counties won by Ernest Istook, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry. Oklahoma 2006 gubernatorial election map.svg
Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2006 results map. Red denotes counties won by Ernest Istook, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry.
Summary of the November 7, 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election results
CandidatesPartyVotes%
  Brad Henry (Incumbent) Democratic Party 616,03366.50%
  Ernest Istook Republican Party 310,27333.50%
Total926,306100.0%
Source: 2006 Election Results

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Bellmon</span> American politician (1921–2009)

Henry Louis Bellmon was an American Republican politician from the U.S. State of Oklahoma. A member of the Oklahoma Legislature, he went on to become both the 18th and 23rd governor of Oklahoma, mainly in the 1960s and again in the 1980s, as well as a two-term United States Senator in the 1970s. He was the first Republican to serve as Governor of Oklahoma and, after his direct predecessor George Nigh, only the second governor to be reelected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election</span>

The 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic governor Brad Henry won re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican U.S. representative Ernest Istook. Henry took 66.5% of the vote to Istook's 33.5% and swept all but three counties in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Fallin</span> American politician (born 1954)

Mary Fallin is an American politician who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She is the first and so far only woman to be elected governor of Oklahoma. She was the first woman to represent Oklahoma in Congress since Alice Mary Robertson left office in 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Oklahoma</span> Oklahoma Politics

The politics of Oklahoma exists in a framework of a presidential republic modeled after the United States. The governor of Oklahoma is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform two-party system. Executive power is exercised by the governor and the government. Legislative power is vested in the governor and the bicameral Oklahoma Legislature. Judicial power is vested in the judiciary of Oklahoma. The political system is laid out in the 1907 Oklahoma Constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Republican Party</span> Oklahoma affiliate of the Republican Party

The Oklahoma Republican Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the Republican Party. Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jari Askins</span> American politician

Jari Askins is an American judge, lawyer, and Democratic politician from the state of Oklahoma. She was the 15th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma, being the second woman and the first female Democrat to hold that position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Adelson</span> American politician from Oklahoma

Tom Adelson is an American politician from Oklahoma. He was an Oklahoma State Senator representing the 33rd Senate District, located in Tulsa County, from 2004 to 2012. Adelson is a Democrat who was first elected in 2004. Prior to his election, Adelson served Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry's first Oklahoma Secretary of Health from 2003 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Lamb (politician)</span> American politician

Todd Lamb is an American politician and university administrator who is the current president of the University of Central Oklahoma. He previously served as the 16th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019 and as a member of the Oklahoma state senate from 2005 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">52nd Oklahoma Legislature</span>

The Fifty-second Oklahoma Legislature was the meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City from January 3, 2009, to January 4, 2011, during the second two years of the second administration of Governor Brad Henry. It was the first session in state history where the Republican Party has controlled both houses of the legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election</span>

The 2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Democrat Brad Henry won the election with 43 percent of the vote, beating Republican Steve Largent and conservative independent Gary Richardson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Dahm</span> American politician (born 1983)

Nathan Ryan Dahm is an American politician who has served as the Oklahoma State Senator for the 33rd district since 2012. Prior to holding office, Dahm worked as a missionary in Romania and was a Tea Party activist in Tulsa County. Dahm has thrice unsuccessfully sought federal office: first running for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district in 2010, then running for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district again in 2018, and then running for retiring senator Jim Inhofe's United States Senate seat in 2022. He is term-limited in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican governor Mary Fallin was term-limited, and was prohibited by the Constitution of Oklahoma from seeking another gubernatorial term. Republican Businessman Kevin Stitt was elected elected with 54.3% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee and former Oklahoma attorney general Drew Edmondson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Treat</span> American politician

Greg Treat is an American Republican politician from Oklahoma and the current President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate. He represents district 47, which includes parts of Oklahoma City, Edmond, Deer Creek, and Bethany. He has served in the Senate since 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim David</span> American politician

Kim David is an American politician and businesswoman who has served as a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission since 2023. She previously served in the Oklahoma Senate representing the 18th district from 2010 to 2022 and as the Oklahoma Senate Majority Floor Leader from January 2019 to October 2021. In 2022 she was term limited from the Oklahoma Legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Stitt</span> Governor of Oklahoma since 2019

John Kevin Stitt is an American businessman and politician serving as the 28th governor of Oklahoma since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2018, defeating Democrat and former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson with 54.3% of the vote. Stitt was reelected to a second term in 2022, defeating Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, a Republican turned Democrat, with 55.4% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican governor Kevin Stitt was re-elected to a second term, with 55.5% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Joy Hofmeister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">58th Oklahoma Legislature</span>

The Fifty-eighth Oklahoma Legislature was a meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023, during the second two years of the first administration of Governor Kevin Stitt. The 2020 Oklahoma elections maintained Republican control of both the House and Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Martinez (politician)</span> Oklahoma state representative

Ryan Martinez is an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 39th District from 2016 through his resignation in 2023. An influential member during his tenure, Martinez resigned after charges for driving under the influence generated a political scandal and a lawsuit seeking his removal from office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Oklahoma elections</span>

A general election was held in the state of Oklahoma on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The primary election was held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Runoff primary elections, where necessary, were held on Tuesday, August 23. The candidate filing period was April 13, 2022 to April 15, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Montgomery (Oklahoma politician)</span> American politician

John Michael Montgomery is an American politician who served in the Oklahoma Senate representing the 32nd district from 2018 to 2023. He previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 62nd district between 2015 and 2018

References

  1. ↑ Everett, Dianna. "Henry, Charles Bradford". Oklahoma Historical Society . Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Governor/Oklahoma." American Votes 2006. CNN.com. Retrieved 10–13–09.
  3. ↑ "Can Republicans Win the Senate in 2014? - NYTimes.com". Archived from the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  4. 1 2 3 Everett, Dianna (2009). "Henry, Charles Bradford (1963– )". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (online ed.). Oklahoma Historical Society.
  5. 1 2 "Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry" Archived February 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine National Governor's Association . Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  6. ↑ "General Election November 5, 2002." Archived November 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine State Election Board. Retrieved 10–13–09.
  7. ↑ "Brad Henry wins Democrat nomination". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
  8. ↑ Jenkins, Ron."Henry Scores Historic Win Over Istook in Okla. Governor's Race." Associated Press, November 9, 2006. Retrieved 10–13–09.
  9. ↑ Snyder, Carmel Perez (2003-01-14). "Henry sworn in as governor". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2022-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  10. ↑ Griffin, David (2005-12-05). "Governor to lead government council". www.newson6.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  11. ↑ The Oklahoman (2002-09-08). "For Brad Henry He's Smart, Savvy and Honest". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  12. 1 2 "Brad Henry on the Issues". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  13. ↑ Hockstader, Lee (2003-05-14). "TEXAS LAWMAKERS HIDE OUT IN HOTEL OVER OKLAHOMA LINE". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  14. ↑ "Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Committee." Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved 10–13–09.
  15. ↑ "Oklahoma: Koran Controversy". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2007-10-25. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  16. ↑ Hinton, Mick. "Worldwide notice of Quran flap surprises all involved." Tulsa World, November 4, 2007. Retrieved 10–13–09.
  17. ↑ Jerusalem Post Staff (2007-10-24). "Oklahoma lawmakers object to gift of Qurans, return their copies". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  18. 1 2 2003 Session Highlights Archived May 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed June 28, 2013)
  19. 1 2 2004 Session Highlights Archived May 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed June 4, 2013)
  20. ↑ Hoberock, Barbara. "Henry's veto is overthrown." Tulsa World, April 18, 2008. Retrieved 10–13–08.
  21. ↑ Hoberock, Barbara (2010-04-24). "Henry vetoes 2 abortion bills". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  22. ↑ Talley, Tim (2010-04-29). "Okla. House overrides abortion restriction vetoes". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  23. ↑ McNuutt, Michael (2010-04-06). "Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry signs 3 anti-abortion bills". Archived from the original on 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  24. ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board
  25. ↑ Hatcher, Nathan (2011-01-25). "Henry presidency may extend to UCO -". MediaOCU. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  26. ↑ BUREAU, WORLD CAPITOL (2013-09-06). "Former Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry ends 2014 speculation, won't run for third term". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  27. ↑ MURPHY, SEAN (2013-09-06). "Former Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry won't rule out 2014 governor bid". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  28. ↑ MURPHY, SEAN (2014-01-20). "US Rep. Lankford announces run for US Senate seat". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  29. ↑ Casteel, Chris (2016-11-09). "Lankford, 4 congressman secure new terms". Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  30. ↑ "Former Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry Joins Spencer Fane". 8 June 2016.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Oklahoma
2002, 2006 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Oklahoma
2003–2011		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former Governor Order of precedence of the United States Succeeded byas Former Governor
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.