Published: Sun, October 28, 2018 5:00 AM
Oklahoma State Sen. Anastasia Pittman
Governors and lieutenant governors from the past, present and possibly the future support a state question that would establish a joint ticket for Oklahoma gubernatorial nominees and running mates.
State Question 798 is on the Nov. 6 ballot and would change the current system in which Oklahoma nominees for governor and lieutenant governor run separately. The changes would go into effect in 2026. The Legislature would determine how the nominee for lieutenant governor is selected.
Currently, 26 states have “team elections” for governor and lieutenant governor in the general election, according to the National Lieutenant Governors Association.
Former Gov. George Nigh, who served 16 years as lieutenant governor before serving two terms as governor, said in an interview that he favors the state question and that the best option would be for the gubernatorial nominee to pick his or her own running mate.
“It should be like the president and vice president,” Nigh said.
Nigh, a Democrat, was among the Oklahoma lieutenant governors to serve under a governor of a different party. For Nigh, that was Republican Dewey Bartlett, who took office in 1967.
