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Photographs included in the original manuscript have laeen reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Artx>r, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI’ NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. UMI’ UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE CHOOSING TO RUN: THE DYNAMICS OF CANDIDATE EMERGENCE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF OKLAHOMA A Dissertation SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree o f Doctor o f Philosophy By JEFFREY BIRDSONG Norman, Oklahoma 2001 UMI Number; 3004868 UMI UMI Microform 3004868 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O.Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 c Copyright by JEFFEIEY BIRDSONG 2001 All Rights Reserved CHOOSING THE RUN: THE DYNAMICS OF CANDIDATES EMERGENCE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF OKLAHOMA A Dissertation APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE By Acknowledgments I would like to thank many individuals for helping me put this dissertation together. From the University of Oklahoma, I thank my advisor. Dr. Gary Copeland, whose guidance got this project started, as well as committee member Dr. Keith Caddie, whose insightful comments strengthened my writing considerably. From my family, I thank my parents. Art and Donna Birdsong, for their support over the years. I also thank my wife. Dr. Seonae Ha-Birdsong, for her patience and assistance. My research was aided by the library staff at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M college, namely librarians Bill Pfannenstiel and Dee Buffalo. Also, the maps, charts, and graphs used throughout the work were dramatically improved with the help of Sloan Brown. I also received a great deal of information and insight on the Oklahoma State legislature from my hometown legislator. Representative Larry D. Roberts, to whom 1 am particularly grateful. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Chsptcr Onei Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Objective of the Research -------------------------------------------------------------------------9 Theoretical Framework ---------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Literature Review ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17 Theories of Candidacy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Candidate Emergence in the State Legislatures ---------------------------------------24 Candidate Emergence and Political Parties -------------------------------------------- 29 Candidate Emergence at the Congressional Level ----------------------------------- 32 Candidate Emergence and Realignments ---------------------------------------------- 36 Candidate Emergence and the Power of Incumbency -------------------------------37 Preview of Chapters Two, Three, and Four -------------------------------------------------39 IL Chapter Two: The Changing Political Culture of Oklahoma ------------------------------- 49 The Distinction of Oklahoma -------------------------------------------------------------------50 A Regional Classification for Oklahoma: An Unresolved Debate -------------- 54 The Party Structure of Oklahoma -------------------------------------------------------------58 The Deceptive History of One-Party Dominance ------------------------------------ 59 Differences between Democrats and Republicans in Oklahoma ---------------------- 67 “Home Style” and Rural Democrats ----------------------------------------------------- 76 Party Activists and Their Influence on Candidates ---------------------------------- 79 The Rural to Urban Shift ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 87 III. Chapter Three: Who Runs and Why for the State Legislature? ---------------------------101 Methodology --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 101 The Candidates of the Two Parties ---------------------------------------------------------- 110 Amateur and Career-Oriented Candidates and Their Motivations -------------------125 Unopposed Candidates ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 130 The “Hopeless” Candidates --------------------------------------------------------------------142 The Influence of Political Parties on Candidate Emergence --------------------------- 152 The Human Element of Campaigning ------------------------------------------------------161 The Ultimate Decision for Candidacy ------------------------------------------------------ 167 IV. Chapter Four: An Evaluation of Candidate Emergence from Election 2000 ----------180 Review of Potential Candidates in the 2000 Elections ----------------------------------188 The Number of Candidates in Open Seats ------------------------------------------------- 206 The Power of Incumbency -------------------------------------------------------------------- 209 What Will Term Limits Mean to Candidate Emergence in the Legislature? — 217 V. Chapter Five: Conclusion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------228 Review of the Preceding Chapters ---------------------------------------------------------- 228 Improvements on the Study ------------------------------------------------------------------- 238 What Future Research May Bring ----------------------------------------------------------- 241 VI. Bibliography ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 252 Appendix A: Unopposed Candidates -----------------------------------------------------------------265 Appendix B: Number of Candidates per Open Seat ----------------------------------------------- 279 Appendix C: Number of Incumbents Who Retired or Were Defeated ------------------------ 284 Appendix D: Interview Schedule -----------------------------------------------------------------------292 Appendix E: Demographic Changes per County in Oklahoma -------------------------------- 295 MAPS Maps Page Map L 1988 Missouri Presidential Election ----------------------------------------------------------71 Map 2. 1992 Missouri Presidential Election ----------------------------------------------------------72 Map 3. 1988 Oklahoma Presidential E lection ------------------------------------------------------- 72 Map 4. 1992 Oklahoma Presidential E lection ------------------------------------------------------- 73 Map 5. Population Growth per County in Oklahoma 1990-1997 --------------------------------88 Map 6. Percentage o f Residents 55 or Older per County in Oklahoma -----------------------90 Map 7. Percentage of Residents 75 or Older per County in Oklahoma ---------------------- 91 Map 8. Regions of Oklahoma Based on Interstate Highway System ----------------------- 266 Map 9. Central Counties from Third Congressional District -----------------------------------266 TABLES Tables Page Table 1. Synopsis of Reasons for Candidacy --------------------------------------------------------168 Table 2. The Contribution Disparity for Incumbents Interviewed ----------------------------- 196 Table 3. Spending Patterns of Incumbents Who Lost Reelection ----------------------------- 197 Table 4. Successful Incumbents Who Were Outspent -------------------------------------------- 198 Table 5. Campaign Spending in Open S eats ---------------------------------------------------------199 Table 6. Selective District Races ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 201 Table 7. Average Number of Democratic Candidates in Rural Open Seats ---------------- 206 Table 8. Average Number of Republican Candidates in Rural Open Seats ---------------- 207 Table 9. Average Number of Democratic Candidates in Suburban/Urban Open Seats - 207 Table 10. Average Number of GOP Candidates in Suburban/Urban Open Seats -------- 208 Table 11. Number of Incumbents Retired/Defeated Per Y ear --------------------------------- 210 Table 12. Berkman’s Ranking of State Legislative Professionalism ------------------------- 215 CHARTS Charts Page Chart 1. Number of Unopposed Candidates ---------------------------------------------------------- 132 Chart 2. Unopposed Democratic