OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Republican Party ousted its chairman on Saturday. The move came despite the party's November election success in increasing its majority control of both chambers of the state Legislature, winning every statewide elected office, all five U.S. House and both U.S. Senate seats.
The party elected 61-year-old former state Senator Randy Brogdon as its new chairman, replacing Dave Weston. Party spokeswoman Courtney Blossey said Brogdon defeated long-time GOP activist Pam Pollard in a runoff after Weston was earlier eliminated from the race.
"It was a fun day," said Brogdon, a tea party favorite and former state senator from Owasso who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2010 and U.S. Senate in 2014.
The 46-year-old Weston spent 23 years in the financial services industry before being elected party chairman in 2013, did not return a phone call seeking comment. Brogdon thanked Weston for his leadership, and said this weekend he does not think the vote was a repudiation of Weston.