Oklahoma

Statehood

There was considerable debate about statehood for Oklahoma, with four possible plans being raised. The one that was eventually accepted allowed for one state, covering both the land purchased for the Native Americans, and the area opened for general settlement. There were serious suggestions for two states, parts being admitted piecemeal, and also no statehood for the Indian Territory The debate mainly concerned the view that if Oklahoma were admitted as a single state, there would be a clear Democratic majority. However, if there were two states, it was likely that the Republicans might get support from the non-Native American state. However, eventually the Republican Party of the Oklahoma territory announced that it favored Oklahoma entering the Union as a single state, assuring statehood. In 1907, Oklahoma gained statehood and was admitted to the Union. Since its creation, Oklahoma has been a predominantly Democratic state, with no Republican governors elected until 1962; only three of its 24 governors have been Republican.

The first elected governor, Charles N. Haskell, was born in Ohio and orphaned at the age of three. He had become a successful lawyer and businessman, moving to Muskogee, and had been active in the campaign for statehood. On March 26, 1907, he held a large banquet in Tulsa, and the gathered members of the Democratic Party were urged to choose him over Thomas Doyle of Perry and Lee Cruce of Ardmore.

The primary campaign was hard-fought, with Haskell trying to make up ground for entering the campaign late, making 88 speeches in 45 days and traveling to nearly every county. Haskell won the primary with a majority of over 4,000 votes, and then had to face Frank Frantz, the Republican governor of the Oklahoma Territory. As the election was going to be close, the Republican presidential nominee, William Howard Taft, and the Democratic Party nominee, William Jennings Bryan, both visited the state, with Taft speaking out against the proposed Oklahoma state constitution. However, in the gubernatorial election on September 17, 1907, Haskell won, and the state constitution was also approved, apparently as a reaction against what was seen as interference by Taft. Oklahoma was declared a state on November 16, 1907, and five minutes later, Haskell was inaugurated as its first governor.

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