Sen. Standridge issues statement after Texas files election lawsuit challenging battleground states’ presidential election results

State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, issued the following statement Tuesday after Texas announced it was challenging the 2020 presidential election results for Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin in the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I am calling on Oklahoma and every other state to join in support of the lawsuit filed by the state of Texas against those battleground states that did not properly conduct their elections. The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear on who decides how a state conducts their elections and selects their presidential electors. Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states, ‘The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof.’ The supreme law of the land, our U.S. Constitution, says nothing about election officials, elected officials outside the legislatures, secretaries of state, governors or even state supreme courts given power over the process of federal elections in the states.

“In addition, formerly passed state constitutional provisions in the states in question were also blatantly ignored in this election year. In multiple instances in these states, election rules were created by those without the power to do so, not only in violation of the U.S. Constitution, but also in violation of their own state constitution.

“Because Oklahoma followed our rules as set forth by our Legislature in conduction of our federal elections, including the election for the presidency, our state, its citizens and, ultimately, its electors have been injured and disenfranchised by those states that decided to conduct their elections outside the authority delegated by the U.S. Constitution and often in disregard of their own constitution. We, as a state, should speak up in support of the lawsuit filed by the state of Texas, because, just as their voters have been injured, so have ours and most other states.

“The day we disregard our U.S. Constitution is the day we are no longer a nation. Although this has been a challenging year, ample time was given to states and Congress, who also holds power to set election rules, to set up any provisions they felt necessary under the delegation authority set forth by the Constitution. Throughout our history, we have followed our Constitution in electing our President despite two world wars, a civil war, famine, depression, pandemics and many other major obstacles. We cannot say that circumstances in 2020 are such that our laws be ignored.

“I ask all to join me in standing up in support of the lawsuit filed by Texas, and in support of our Republic and its Constitution. Let’s stand up today for our Constitution, so tomorrow our children and grandchildren are not left with a nation less than the one we have been blessed with.”

For more information, contact Sen. Rob Standridge at 405-521-5535 or email Rob.Standridge@oksenate.gov.

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