Republicans Kim David and Todd Thomsen headed for runoff in Corporation Commission race

Two Republicans remain in the running to replace a term-limited Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner after this week's primary.

In a runoff on Aug. 23, Republican voters will be asked to select either Oklahoma Sen. Kim David, of Porter, or former state Rep. Todd Thomsen, of Ada, to be their party's nominee in an election to replace Commissioner Dana Murphy, who is term-limited.

The runoff winner will advance to November's general election, where he or she will face Democrat Margaret Warigia Bowman, of Tulsa, and independent Don Underwood, of Inola, to claim the seat for a six-year term.

Once elected, the winner could serve up to 12 years (two six-year terms) as a commissioner before being term-limited.

Elected commissioners at the agency make decisions on rate cases involving utilities, approve rules involving commercial wind turbines, govern horizontal drilling for oil and natural gas, make decisions impacting natural gas production from the state’s most prolific wells and give operators authority to determine whether production from their wells is wasteful.

They also work with the agency’s Oil and Gas Conservation Division staff, which in turn has worked with scientists and energy industry leaders to deal with induced seismicity problems attributed to saltwater injection wells.

Lesser-known duties include the regulation of cotton gins, the dispensing of motor fuels and related underground petroleum storage tanks, pipeline safety enforcement, oversight of railroad intersections with roads and intrastate passenger and freight hauling services.

Runoff candidates

David, who received 41% of the votes in the primary, is wrapping up a 12-year career in Oklahoma's Senate where she represented constituents in Wagoner and parts of Cherokee, Muskogee and Okmulgee counties.

As a senator, David helped develop state budgets and helped write the law enabling utilities to use state-issued bonds to retire $3.5 billion in extraordinary fuel costs utilities paid to provide services during winter storm Uri.

"That really interested me, how our utilities go after securing the energy they need to serve their customers, whether it be wind, solar, natural gas or another source of energy. I would like to be able to continue working on finding the best solutions to those issues so that we are much better prepared the next time a storm like that hits the Midwest."

Thomsen served in Oklahoma's House of Representatives representing part of southeast Oklahoma between 2006 and 2018, rising through its leadership ranks to chair its Utilities Committee and to serve on its Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Thomsen, who was supported by 26% of voters in the primary, has said his experience as a lawmaker helped educate him about the commission and the role it plays in regulating Oklahoma's industries. He has said he saw this year's election as a chance to fill a seat on the three-person panel that opened because of term limits.

"As a commissioner, you have a significant impact on the viability of our state and the future of its economy," Thomsen said.

You can reach Jack Money at jmoney@oklahoman.com.