State Senator Nancy Riley Changes Party Registration

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Tulsa Senator cites education, agenda for middle class families as primary reasons for switch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 2, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY – Mike Morgan, President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate, today announced that Senator Nancy Riley (SD 37--Tulsa) has declared to him her intentions to caucus and vote with the Democratic majority in the upcoming legislative session.  Riley will formally change her party affiliation to Democrat for the upcoming General Election in November.

“This is a decision that has been a long time coming, and I believe my actions are the best for my district and our state.”

“It has become clear to me the Republican Party leadership seems focused on pushing moderate voters to the side and supporting policies that do not move our state forward,” said Riley.  “There’s nothing in their agenda for middle class families, they show lip service to education and infrastructure, and they aren’t serious about punishing corporations who bring illegal aliens to our state.

“The driving force in my decision is that no one in leadership is listening to moderates in the Oklahoma Republican Party.”

Riley, a Tulsa Public Schools teacher for 13 years, recently received 23.46 percent of the vote in the Republican Lt. Governor Primary.  “My support has always come from the sensible center of the electorate. That is how I got elected to the Senate and that is where my votes came from in the Lt. Governor’s race. 

“I’ve always respected the work Senator Riley has done on behalf of children and middle class families in our state, and I think she will be a valuable member of our team,” said Morgan. 

Following the birth of their second child, Riley’s husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died after an 18 month illness.  “As a young widow with two preschool aged children I learned how helpful government services can be when they instill personal responsibility.  Vital services that empower the middle class are the first to go on the chopping block under irresponsible Republican initiatives like TABOR.” 

“Senator Riley’s decision will have a major impact on the priorities of state government,” said Morgan. “Hopefully now we will have increased flexibility to focus on sending more middle class kids to college, making bold steps towards improving education, and finding solutions for the roads and bridges crisis facing our state.”

“When voters first elected me to the Senate I promised to focus on education and children’s issues.  I have kept my promises, but my horizon has also expanded to include veterans and business related issues,” said Riley.  “These issues are higher on the priority list in the Democratic Caucus, and I want to continue leading on them.”  Riley was reelected to her Senate post in 2004 with over 66% of the vote.  She is a native of the Tulsa area and now lives in Sand Springs.

Riley changed her voter registration today, but due to Oklahoma State law the change in party affiliation will not formally take place until September.  Members of the Democratic Caucus have granted her full voting rights in the interim.

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