Monday, June 15, 2020

While it's hard to believe we've reached the midway mark in June, the world keeps turning whether or not you've caught your breath from the last three wild months since COVID-19 became a reality in Oklahoma.

Now, we are two weeks away from the state's primary election on Tuesday, June 30. As a result, it felt like time to make sure our loyal Monday Minute newsletter readers were aware of some major issues and events worth watching this week and next.

Below, please find information about our 5th Congressional District GOP primary debate set for Thursday, as well as other important primary election primers and voting details.

Plus, did you know the president is coming to Oklahoma for a campaign rally? Not sure if you'd heard ....

30 seconds:
Absentee ballots & poll workers

Two things worth noting real quick: First, the deadline to request an absentee ballot (and avoid potentially packed polling locations on Election Day) is approaching: June 23. Use this link to request your absentee ballot and read this article about how some banks and credit unions are making notary services available to absentee voters.

Second, the Oklahoma County Election Board is seeking additional poll workers for the June 30 primary election. Poll workers are paid for their time, and the Oklahoma County Election Board can be reached at (405) 713-1515. Other counties also need volunteers, so find contact information for your county election board here.

Voting matters, and the people who help make it possible are incredibly valuable to the process.

1 minute:
CD 5 GOP primary debate streaming online

How do you have a congressional debate during a pandemic? Very carefully. With nine candidates seeking the Republican nomination in Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District — which is being watched nationally as a general election bellwether — NonDoc has partnered with News 9 to provide primary voters with a debate between the top five challengers in the GOP race. The Republican nominee will ultimately face incumbent U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, who is Oklahoma's lone Democrat in D.C.

Our CD 5 GOP primary debate is set for 5:15 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Oklahoma City Community College in southwest OKC. We are encouraging people to watch the debate streamed on News9.com or on Facebook. Limited seating is available by reservation. To inquire about obtaining seats, please contact angela@nondoc.com.

Read more about the candidates who will debate and others in the CD 5 race.

(P.S. — Yes, we are planning general election debates as well.)

2 minutes:
The president is coming to (Tulsa) town

If you've somehow been out in the woods without cell or internet service for the past week, first let us say congratulations. Second, let us alert you to President Donald Trump's first scheduled campaign event since the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. Trump is slated to speak inside the BOK Center in Tulsa at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20. The event was originally announced for June 19, which is celebrated as Juneteenth to mark the end of slavery in America.

In a rare move for a president prone to standing ground on his controversial decisions, Trump announced he was rescheduling his rally to the 20th after listening to people frustrated by the original date.

Simultaneously, public health officials have been expressing concern about having an event inside a stadium that typically holds up to 19,000 people. The Trump campaign has said more than 1 million people have requested free "tickets" to the event, though that number includes those who have openly championed an attempt to undermine event access by reserving tickets without intending to attend.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said earlier today that he is set to introduce Trump to the crowd, though he is seeking an outdoor venue alternative owing to COVID-19. He also said he has invited Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to tour the Greenwood District.

5 minutes:
Primary primers in #okleg races

With all that's going on, it's likely that many Oklahomans might prepare for the June 30 primary election a lot like they did for a high school examination: Wait until the last minute and then cram as best as possible.

Fortunately, our two amazing editorial interns — Annemarie Cuccia and Blake Douglas — have been burning the midnight oil to crank out primers about key primary elections in races for the Oklahoma Legislature.

Blake and Annemarie have published a dozen important #okleg primary primers so far, and many more are in the works between now and June 30.

As a result, bookmark this URL today for easy access moving forawrd: https://nondoc.com/tag/2020-okleg-primary/.

BONUS:
Have a chuckle and remember to sanitize

10 more seconds?