The OKAgFund, Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s grassroots political action committee, has endorsed Kevin Stitt in the Oklahoma gubernatorial election following a meeting of the board on Aug. 30.

A grassroots committee comprised of OKFB members from around the state, the OKAgFund contributed an additional $29,500 in financial support to statewide candidates. The committee increased financial support for eight candidates and gave first-time financial support to 25 candidates.

“As farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahomans, we aim to support like-minded candidates who value the rural way of life,” said Coy Farmer, chairman of the OKAgFund. “We are proud to stand with these candidates who we believe will work to ensure a strong future for agriculture and rural Oklahoma.”

The OKAgFund also announced endorsements for seven other candidates including Matt Pinnell for lieutenant governor. Senate candidates endorsed include Mark Allen, Senate District 4; James Leewright, Senate District 12; Josh West, House District 5; Tom Gann, House District 8; Scott Fetgatter, House District 16; Kenton Patzkowsky, House District 61; and Rande Worthen, House District 64. Following the Aug. 28 elections, the group was 85 percent successful in backing candidates that won their primary runoff election.

OKAgFund is supported by voluntary contributions from Farm Bureau members across the state as an optional portion of their membership dues.

David Boren endorses Democrat Drew Edmondson

Former U.S. Sen. David Boren, who retired this year as president of The University of Oklahoma, has endorsed Democrat Drew Edmondson for governor.

“As attorney general, (Edmondson) stood up to the big tobacco companies and built a multimillion-dollar trust fund for our state to help fight cancer and built one of the finest cancer centers in the nation in Oklahoma,” Boren, who is also a Democrat, said in a prepared statement. “He stood up to the out-of-state corporations that were polluting our rivers. Drew Edmondson never hesitates to stand up for Oklahomans.”

Edmondson faces Republican Kevin Stitt, Libertarian Rex Lawhorn and Independent Ivan Holmes on November 6.