OK Abortion Abolitionists Defeat Pro-Life Republicans who wouldn't Support Bill to Abolish Abortion

Abortion Abolitionists in Oklahoma have reason to cheer after they made good on their promise to run against and unseat any professing pro-life politicians who would not support Senate Bill 13, (SB13) a bill designed to abolish abortion in the state and defy both the federal government and the supreme court if they attempt to overrule them or intervene.

Oklahoma has fast become the battleground between incumbent pro-life republicans who have squandered their ability to abolish abortion in the state, and abolitionists primary challengers who are determined to oust them because of it.

This ideological conflict has been brewing for years, particularly after the pro-life republican supermajority killed a bill designed to abolish abortion in Oklahoma. The bill was supported by over 100 pastors from around the State who signed and delivered petitions calling for a fair hearing of SB13, as well as by the Oklahoma Baptists, Oklahoma Free Will Baptists, and Oklahoma Republican Party, all who passed resolutions demanding SB13.

The refusal to pass or hear SB13 is notable because Oklahoma is considered the most “pro-life state in America,” having a supermajority in both the House and Senate in Oklahoma. Of the 48 seats in the state senate, 39 are held by Republicans and 9 by Democrats, meaning that over 80% of the senators are Republicans. Furthermore, Oklahoma has a professing Republican pro-life Governor, a Republican pro-life Lieutenant Governor, a Republican pro-life President Pro Tem of the Senate, and a Republican pro-life majority floor leader.

As a result of the Bill being defeated twice by pro-life politicians, lobbyist Russell Hunter of Free the States promised:

“We will be campaigning against them. We will be attempting to replace each and every legislator that said they will not hear Senate Bill 13.”

This has now happened.

Abolitionists ran 10 candidates who support SB13, almost all who were neophytes running first-time campaigns and had no name recognition – a handful of faithful nobodies trying to make a difference.

After the smoke had cleared, abolitionists candidates unseated two Republican incumbents and another was instrumental in defeating a third and getting an endorsed candidate the win.

Jessica Garvin, who was endorsed by Free the States, defeated incumbent Paul Scott after abolitionist candidate Kaity Keith joined the fray, acting as a spoiler and helping ousting Scott due to his refusal to support the bill, voting instead to abstain. Garvin has said that she will author or co-author a bill to abolish abortion.

Furthermore, Abolitionist Warren Hamilton defeated incumbent State Senator Larry Boggs by a 52.3-to-47.7% and Margie Alfonso defeated Clay Iiams by similar margins, with the abolitionist vote being crucial for the victories of both candidates.

The candidates will face their Democratic opponents in November. Free the States has promised to keep running candidates against anyone who will not support SB13. With the state and citizenry being “steel balled” at an unprecedented rate, (Dan Fisher won nearly 8% and 35,000 votes on an abolitionist campaign in the 2018 Gubernatorial Election) we are hopeful and excited that this is just the beginning.