Oklahoma political leaders react to Harris – Trump debate

OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — Oklahoma politicians from both parties have reacted to Tuesday night’s first presidential debate of the 2024 race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump. 

Harris and Trump met for the first time on the debate stage in Philadelphia. Harris stepped in as the Democratic presidential nominee in July, following President Joe Biden’s concerning debate performance in June, which intensified calls for him to drop out of the race. 

Harris and Trump spent the majority of the night discussing their own character and, at times,  attacking their opponent’s during the 90-minute debate. The debate included a broad range of national issues, spanning from inflation to women’s reproductive rights. 

Throughout the night, both candidates repeatedly accused each other of lying. Trump even claimed that he “probably took a bullet to the head” due to the rhetoric portraying him as a threat to democracy from Democrats, referencing an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this summer. 

Click here to watch the full debate. 

According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, Republicans account for the largest share of registered voters in the state at 51.7%, while Democrats represent 28.4%, and Independent voters make up 19%.

Democrats react

In an interview with Free Press following the debate, Democrat State Rep. Forrest Bennett of House District 92 commended Harris for her clear, policy-focused responses and criticized Trump for his off-topic rants. 

Bennett
Oklahoma State Representative Forrest Bennett, District 92, Oklahoma City. (file, B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

“I think that Kamala Harris made the case that she can be a candidate for Republicans and Democrats, that in her entire career, she has worked for folks regardless of party,” Bennett said. “I hope that the viewers in Oklahoma heard that message and I also hope that they really take into consideration the way Trump didn’t really answer questions.” 

During the debate, Harris touched on issues relevant to Oklahoma, such as fracking and renewable energy. She clarified her position on fracking, stating that she does not want to ban it but emphasized the importance of reducing reliance on foreign energy. This marked a shift from her original position on the issue during her first presidential run in 2020. 

In an interview with Free Press, Alicia Andrews, Chairwoman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, defended Harris’ shift in her stance on fracking. She acknowledged that while some will view the change in positions as a “flip-flop,” however she sees it as a positive development, demonstrating Harris’ willingness to adapt to new information. 

“The fact that she has gotten more information and has modified her original position should not be considered a negative,” Andrews said. “When you have more information, you should act on that information.”  

Rep. Cyndi Munson, a Democrat running for another term to represent House District 85, says she believes the debate clearly contrasted the two candidates’ abilities to lead and communicate with Americans. 

Cyndi Munson knocking doors
Rep. Cyndi Munson knocking doors in one of her early campaigns for HD85. (file photo, B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

“My hope is that if there are still undecided voters in Oklahoma, especially when it comes to who our next president will be that at the very least they can see the contrast and they can see in Vice President Harris that she’s focused on the issues and the things that we all are concerned about everyday.” 

Munsons says she plans to keep engaging with voters through door-knocking, social media, and by hosting additional town halls leading up to election day. 

Republicans react 

Republican Congressman Josh Brecheen, who represents Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District, posted on Facebook and Twitter (X) during the debate criticizing the Biden-Harris administration.

Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen (official photo)

He wrote, “Under President Trump, we had a strong economy, a closed border, and peace around the world. Under Biden-Harris, we’ve seen 40-year high inflation, record crime, 10 million illegals pour across our border, and war across the globe.”  

Inflation reached a 40-year high in June 2022, but the CPI inflation rate has since dropped 3% from its peak of 9.1%. Economists note that neither Trump nor Biden are responsible for the surge in inflation, attributing it instead to global events that disrupted the U.S. economy, driving up prices. 

According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol statistics, there have been an estimated 10 million encounters at U.S. land borders during the Biden administration. In July alone, CBP reported 170,273 encounters nationwide, both between and at U.S. ports of entry. Encounters with those trying to enter the U.S. illegally mean that those people are being processed by the Border Patrol, not that they have escaped into the country unsupervised as Brecheen’s statement implies.

Republicans have criticized the Biden-Harris administration for rising crime rates. However, recent preliminary quarterly reports from the FBI show that overall violent crime dropped 15% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period the previous year. 

Free Press contacted several local GOP leaders for post-debate interviews, but they did not respond in time for publication.  

Voting information

The voter registration deadline for the November general election is October 11, with the deadline to request an absentee ballot set for October 21. 

According to the state election board, in addition to early voting on the Thursday and Friday before the election, early voting will also be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Saturday before the general election. 


Author Profile

Brianna Garcia is a freelance journalist covering local politics and culture for Free Press. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma.