Lawmaker Won’t Seek New Term in New District
Blaming Democrats for planning districts that would cut him off from his constituents, Republican Rep. Wes Watkins said he will not run for reelection this year.
Watkins said every map being discussed by the Democrat-controlled state Legislature places his Stillwater residence outside his 3rd Congressional District.
Oklahoma is losing one of its six congressmen because census figures show its population did not grow as fast as other states.
Watkins held the seat as a Democrat from 1977-91. Switching parties in 1996, he retook the seat and was reelected twice.
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