OKGOP Convention of Conviction 2025
Brawlers and Builders Abound
As the Oklahoma Republican Party gathers for convention this weekend, both establishment and grassroots agree publicly on supporting President Donald J. Trump, but divide on lines of corruption, control, and aggrandizement.
Having written extensively over years on State and County Republican organizations and officials, I have struggled with this opinion piece primarily because I had such hope for outgoing Chairman Nathan Dahm. I thought he was a builder not a poser.
Long known and admired for his Constitutional advocacy in the State Legislature, Dahm was first a missionary in Romania, but his lack of management skill was soon apparent. He delegated the party work to incompetent sycophants and all but declared himself the Oklahoma Republican King. Dahm was not well suited to practicing totalitarian leadership in a voluntary organization of free people - no one could be.
Briefly summarized, the OKGOP Chairman must follow party rules. Otherwise, the Chair is a rule breaker or criminal if you prefer – prosecuted or not. OKGOP Rules demand transparency in financial transactions, communication with other party officials, and adherence to the State Executive Committee which is the controlling authority of the organization.
Full adherence to OKGOP Rules is the management grassroots and county organizations demand. Ground-up rather than top-down. Any other style will start a brawl and both top-down and bottom-up groups have significant force to maintain a fight for years. Been there, seen that, repeatedly and, at times, participating.
Hopeful Endorsement
Charity Linch is running for State Chairman and Wayne Hill for Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. After many conversations and due consideration, this writer believes they offer the only option to rebuild our fractured organization statewide. To read more about them click here.
To build is the point, isn’t it? Is that not why we volunteer our time and money – to build success. Oklahoma Republicans work to build for future generations and fight for common sense, efficiency and transparency in state governance as our representatives fight nationally. We must insist. Please, let’s get back to winning by our convictions not manipulations.
Democrats are morally criminal, emotionally unstable, and cognitively impaired. And all the GOP is doing in Oklahoma on the field of public debate is fighting with itself?
How about moving the battle for common sense outside rather than inside the party?
This Republican is praying we can, if we pick the right leaders, this weekend.
Could not agree with you more. Dahm was a great disappointment. He is not the person I thought he was. I had the opportunity to witness this in private meetings that changed my opinion of him. Not for the good either.
And David, this is why we like you - the teller of truth. None of us is perfect, and we know that, but in my work with the "ground team," they all asked months after ND took office, "What has happened to our admired Nathan Dahm?" They were all in shock that someone they thought held so closely to the grassroots now seemed just as anxious to veer away. The "establishment" ticket to fill these positions seems incredibly weak compared to the grassroots candidates, as if the establishment says, "Take it, including the huge debt, the problems with the state HQ physical facility, the financial mess, and the horrid state of volunteerism in the state. We don't care, and you can't do anything about it! Na. Na. Na!" The grassroots will take that challenge and build a strong volunteer community that will last for at least a generation or so.
I'm looking forward to this challenge.
Thank you for your honest words and support of Charity and Wayne.