Senator addresses Dark Money, low voter turnout for primary elections, and extremism
Jessica Garvin wiped tears from her eyes as she suddenly realized her address to the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce would be her last as State Senator for District 43.
Garvin was elected to a term in 2020, but lost the 2024 Republican Primary Election to Kendall Sacchieri, of Blanchard.
That’s not the end of the story, however, as Garvin explained at the Chamber State of the State Luncheon that she was beat by Dark Money.
Garvin said that the advertising direct mail pieces, broadcast and print, came from Dark Money groups that only have to say at the bottom of their ads, “paid for by” and the official name of the group.
She explained that the Dark Money groups are hard to track, their donors are not disclosed, and the money is difficult to track.
She said it’s illegal for a candidate to coordinate with any third party on expenditures for campaign advertising.
On the other hand, she said candidates must file with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, so the public can see all their donations and expenses.
Garvin said she continues to serve until after the November election when a new State Senator will take office. She said she’s still working on some bills with senators who are continuing to serve so they can move forward.
As she discussed what was next, Garvin said, “God has a plan, but I don’t know what that looks like right now.”
A subject Garvin did not address before the Primary Election, was the amount of extremism she sees on both the right and the left.
The subject came up during a question and answer session as Newcastle School Board President Tiffany Elcyzyn noted that politics have entered public education in Oklahoma, and there is a need to “change the narrative.”
Senator Garvin said it is very divisive right now in Oklahoma Education. She said the teachers need to be able to teach basic reading, writing and math.
She said it has gotten so bad that there are now Oklahomans who say they want to get rid of all public schools. She said Governor Stitt says the State wants to fund the student and not the system; however, she believes in the rural communities of District 43 the system is the student.
Garvin said she was sickened on the other side of her race, because the State needs people representing this area in particular who support public education.
Garvin pleaded with luncheon attendees to vote in Oklahoma elections. She said she was angered by the amount of people who don’t vote in primary elections.
The outcome, she says, is those on the extreme of the right and those on the extreme of the left taking part.
She said when you get to the General Election, which has a much better voter turnout, the voters only have extreme right and extreme left candidates to vote on.
“The people who show up to vote in primary elections are extremists who want to shut down public education, and they want to push Christian Nationalism,” Garvin said. “I’m a woman of faith, but I’m telling you that’s not what our forefathers intended.”
Garvin was asked if she would consider running for office again. She tearfully said right now she is walking in to the next chapter with an open heart.
“If God calls me to do it again (run for office), but right now I am just enjoying my kids,” Garvin said.
Sacchieri will face Democrat Sam Graefe, of Dibble, on the November 5 ballot to see who will serve as the next District 43 State Senator.
