Sen. Connie Johnson announces US Senate bid

Oklahoma City (AP) — A Democratic state senator from Oklahoma City who has been a leading liberal voice in the Senate announced Tuesday her plans to run for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Tom Coburn.

Flanked by family and friends, Sen. Connie Johnson, 61, announced her candidacy at the state Capitol, saying: "It's time for a change."

"I'm running for this office in order to promote the conversations that will bring about that change," said Johnson, who lives in the small town of Forest Park, which is located within the boundaries of Oklahoma City. "In the coming weeks and months we will be having the tough conversations on the campaign trail, and we will talk about the issues that a majority of Oklahomans want actions on, but that policymakers continue to ignore."

Among the issues Johnson cited were curtailing surveillance programs operated by federal agencies that target U.S. citizens, increased funding for public schools, and greater workplace equality for women.

Johnson is the first high-profile Democrat to announce plans to run for the seat, which is heavily favored to remain in Republican hands. A Democrat hasn't been elected to an open U.S. Senate seat in Oklahoma since David Boren in 1978. Another Democrat who has announced plans to run is Charles Jenkins Jr., a retired federal government employee from Lawton.

Among the more than half-dozen Republicans expected to file for the post are two-term U.S. Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma City, former House Speaker T.W. Shannon of Lawton, and former state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso.

The three-day filing period begins Wednesday at the state Capitol.

Johnson has introduced a bill every session to ease restrictions on marijuana since she was first elected, although the measures are rarely even granted a hearing. Her efforts to support both medicinal and legal use of cannabis have made her a hero among the pro-marijuana movement.

Johnson, who grew up in southeastern Oklahoma, also has been a fierce supporter in the Senate for abortion rights and a longtime critic of the state's criminal sentencing code and high incarceration rate.

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by Sean Murphy, Associated Press

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – April 8, 2014 @ 3:45pm