Primary Run-Offs a Bad Day for Gamefowl Commission as Several Pro-Cockfighting Candidates Go Down for the Count

Tulsa, OK — The results are in for the August 27 primary run-off elections in Oklahoma, and overall, some major pro-cockfighting candidates went down to defeat. This will have the effect of cementing the overwhelming opposition of state lawmakers to weakening Oklahoma’s strong, voter-approved anti-cockfighting law.

Vice Mayor Christi Gillespie, an anti-cockfighting candidate for SD 33 in Broken Arrow, defeated Shelley Gwartney by a wide margin. Gwartney had touted her endorsement by the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission (OGC), the front group for the cockfighters’ political action committee, and accepted major donations from the chairman of the OGC.

Gillespie will face Democrat Bob Willis in the Nov. 5 general election. Vice Mayor Gillespie had been clear in her opposition to decriminalizing cockfighting in any form and was endorsed by Animal Wellness Action. Former Governor Frank Keating, an ardent and outspoken opponent of cockfighting, had also endorsed Gillespie.

With the exception of the Stacy Jo Adams win in Stephens County, it was a bad night for the OGC. Candidates they had endorsed in Cleveland County, Lincoln County, Wagoner County, Tulsa County, and Oklahoma County lost their elections.

In SD 15, Lisa Standridge, who had told Animal Wellness Action that she would not vote to lower penalties on cockfighting, defeated Robert Keyes. Standridge, who faced strong opposition and ridicule from the OGC. Standridge told Animal Wellness Action she would oppose efforts to lower penalties for cockfighting. Standridge will face Democrat Elizabeth Foreman in the November general election.

In SD 47 which covers parts of Edmond and north Oklahoma City, Kelly Hines defeated Jenny Schmitt for the Republican nomination to face Democrat Erin Brewer in the general election. Hines had been endorsed by the OGC but said he would decline their endorsement. Hines and Schmitt had both expressed opposition to cockfighting.

Longtime energy-industry employee Jim Shaw garnered 54 percent of the vote and ousted Rep. Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston) in HD 32. Shaw had expressed opposition to cockfighting to AWA and Wallace had declined to respond on the issue.

In HD 98 in Broken Arrow, educator Gabe Woolley ousted Rep. Dean Davis (R-Broken Arrow) to win the Republican nomination for the House District 98 seat. Wooley had told Animal Wellness Action, “I think forcing animals to fight for entertainment is cruel and inhumane.” Woolley will face Democrat Cathy Smythe, an IT consultant, in November.

In Stephens County, in southwestern Oklahoma, the cockfighters had their only win of the evening in competitive races, with Stacey Jo Adams defeating Andrew Aldridge. Aldridge had been an outspoken opponent of cockfighting while Adams’ husband had been strongly associated with cockfighting and donations to the OGC. There is no Democrat opponent in the race.

Animal Wellness Action, through AWA Oklahoma PAC, has been increasingly involved in election activities. Animal Wellness Action has also filed a complaint with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission over campaign violations by the cockfighters’ PAC, the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission.