Democrat Dossett picks up Republican-held seat in OK Senate!

"Blue lightning has struck twice out on the Great Plains: On Tuesday night, Democrat J.J. Dossett won a special election for the state Senate in Oklahoma by a healthy 56-44 margin, picking up a Republican-held seat in the Tulsa area that Mitt Romney carried with an astounding 70 percent of the vote. What makes this even more amazing is that just a few months ago, Democrat Cyndi Munson also wrested a dark red legislative seat from the GOP in the Oklahoma City suburbs, giving Democrats two victories in districts they should never have been competitive in on paper.

"... Dossett’s background as a teacher allowed him to focus his campaign heavily on education, an ideal topic for a Democrat running on Republican turf. And like his father before him, Dossett also coaches his school’s boys’ basketball team—a sport that’s close to a religion in many communities. He even cancelled his election night watch party to coach a game!

"Republican businessman and pastor David McLain, meanwhile, emerged from a rough GOP primary that 'left some sore feelings,' according to the Tulsa World, and was not as well-known. He campaigned on typical conservative themes, but sometimes “small government” isn’t a winning message for folks tired of cuts to education funding. ...

"The party is still deep in the minority in the state Senate, though, with just nine members (including Dossett) compared to 39 for Republicans. But Dossett's huge upset, like Munson’s, shows what can happen when one side takes victory for granted, and it should inspire Democrats facing long odds everywhere."