Stearman vows to take on corruption in run for Daniels' Senate seat

Former Oklahoma state legislator Wendi Stearman has quietly launched a campaign to challenge sitting state Sen. Julie Daniels with little fanfare.

Stearman's new website echoes the same language, accomplishments and photos used in her failed 2022 bid for reelection against primary challenger John Kane. Kane won with 57% of the vote.

Promises to reject contributions from lobbyists

With the tagline "No lobbyist money, just Oklahoma values," Stearman vows not to take part in what she calls "legalized corruption" if elected.

She has strongly criticized Daniels and other state legislators for kowtowing to special interests, claiming they "have effectively bought many legislators." She promises to "reject all gifts and contributions from lobbyists and their employers."

In a newsletter she calls the "Stearman Sentinel" on her campaign website, Stearman said Daniels has accepted money from a "who's-who of major corporate interests." She didn't specifically mention any of those donors except to claim that "Daniels has frequently accepted such gifts and contributions, including a recent $160 dinner at an Oklahoma City steakhouse."

However, Stearman herself accepted more than $22,000 from special interest groups, corporate donors and Political Action Committees (PAC) during her 2020 and 2022 campaigns, according to campaign finance filings.

The Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights, Americans for Prosperity and Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee are among the top PACs that donated to Stearman's campaigns.

Other top corporate donors to Stearman's campaigns include COX Communications, Marathon Petroleum and Centene Corporation. Centene is reportedly the largest Medicaid-managed care organization in the U.S.

Campaign filings also reveal that during Stearman's two-year term as a state legislator, lobbyists paid for more than $700 worth of meals for her at an average of $32.25 per expense.

During that same period, Daniels received more than $2,000 worth of meals from lobbyists, averaging $35.25 per expense, filings show.

Stearman shares biggest accomplishment with Daniels

"One of (Stearman's) notable legislative feats was the passing of HB4327," says her website.

HB 4327, which banned all abortions in the state and was designed to be enforced through lawsuits from private citizens against abortion providers, was the only bill Stearman passed during her time in the state Legislature.

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In fact, Daniels co-authored the bill with Stearman.

Earlier this year, the legislation was struck down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

The EE was unable to reach Stearman for comment about her state Senate campaign.

The upcoming 2024 primary will be the first time Daniels has faced a primary challenger since she was first elected in 2016. She ran unopposed in 2020.

"I will continue to be a strong conservative voice for the people of (Oklahoma Senate District 29)" Daniels told the EE in response to a request for comment. "As always, the legislature faces a multitude of issues and I will be prepared to address them."

The Republican primary will be held June 18, 2024. The state candidate filing period is April 3-5, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Stearman vows to take on corruption in run for Daniels' Senate seat