John M. O'Connor
Republican | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John M. O'Connor
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary & Special
Race
Attorney General
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, BA; Political Science, 1977
University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa, Law, 1980
WORK & MILITARY
Oklahoma Attorney General, July 2021 - Present
Hall Estill, Shareholder, April 2018-June 2021
Newton, O'Connor, Turner & Ketchum, P.C., Founder, Shareholder, Chair and CEO, 1983 - 2018
AFFILIATIONS
Salvation Army, Fundraising Chair, Red Cross
Fundriasing Chair, Ronald McDonald House, Past President & Board Member
Catholic Charities, Fundriasing Chair, OSU Tulsa
Board Member, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Past President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Oklahoma Attorney General, 1
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (6)
National Right To Life
Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association OK2A
Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
*Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee
Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights
OTHER (2)
American Farmers and Ranchers PAC
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Cattlemen's Association
Oklahoma Second Amendment Association OK2A
Susan B Anthony List (Pro-Life Group)
Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights
Patient Choice Coalition
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Dave Rader (2020)
Glen Mulready (2018)
James Lankford (2021)
Jim Bridenstine (2015)
Jim Inhofe (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Kevin Stitt (2021)
Republican Attorney General Association (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only to save the mother's life.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I would support a flatter fairer tax code, with reductions for individuals and small businesses.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Keep businesses open. Reduce COVID supports. Prosecute fraud and abuse in governmental programs that take funds from the people.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C- Response: Medicare and Medicaid should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
The government should never use private employers to require vaccines under the threat that employees will lose their jobs. The government should never call the COVID shots "vaccines" because they are not vaccines. The schools can require vaccines, like for polio, but parents must be allowed to exempt their children from vaccines. The government should not be permitted to force the population to take the "vaccine" under any circumstances. Any government or business which requires a vaccine must be required to allow personal health and religious exemptions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The threat of Islamic terrorism is both external and internal. Externally, the United States should stand up for the rights and liberties/human rights of victims of Islamic terrorism. Internally, we must protect the U.S. Constitution and laws and the Oklahoma Constitution and laws and reject efforts to incorporate Sharia law into our Nation's laws.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should enforce US immigration laws. We need to admit people to the USA who are not criminals and who comply with our immigration laws. This could include professionals, a visa for temporary workers, and those seeking political asylum for their beliefs. Also, we should admit those who have assisted and cooperated with U.S. efforts in their respective countries and who will be punished in their home countries for that cooperation and assistance. Above all, we should have closed borders and compliance with the immigration laws enacted by Congress. The President should not be authorized to wave that compliance.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised to believe, and strongly believe today, that Jesus is Lord, and that His life and teachings provide the guidance and wisdom that we need to live and to care for our neighbors, both on our block and around the world. I believe that the Bible is authoratative. I do not believe we should force our beliefs on others, but instead, we should seek to inspire others to faith based upon how we live. Our Nation was founded on the notion that there is a Divine Creator and that each individual's inherent value and rights derive from the Divine Creator, not from governments. Our system of governance has thrived where individuals are free to form their own beliefs, including religious beliefs. The government should not require any particular belief system.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Our confidence in the accuracy of our elections is critical in our democracy. Our election laws and voting practices must eliminate every threat to the accuracy of our elections. The laws I would propose would be aimed at providing and enforcing these protections.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
America has a history of racism. We must learn from that history. Many Americans gave their lives to end slavery in America. We honor their sacrifice by continuing to defeat racism. Together, we will overcome racism. I do not view racism as a threat to domestic security in the US.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The rights belong first to the citizens. The citizens create federal and state governments to promote safety, to protect the rights of the individuals, to provide for the common defense, to provide infrastructure, and to enforce the rule of law. Government should not intrude on the efforts of individuals and businesses, except to the degree necessary to achieve the purposes in the aforementioned sentence.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I took office on July 23rd, 2021. See attached links to articles, letters, and press releases (https://www.oag.ok.gov/newsroom) (1) regarding my pro-life efforts, (2) my lawsuits and criticisms of the Biden-Harris-Pelosi troika, (3) regarding keeping the government out of the patient-doctor relationship, (4) regarding keeping the government out of parent-child relationships, (5) regarding transgender bathrooms at public schools, (6) regarding activist, caring parents of school age kids being denigrated as 'domestic terrorists by the Biden Department of Justice, (7) regarding teaching CRT in public schools, (8) regarding enforcing exceptions for mask mandates for kids at school, (9) criticizing the Biden administration for reducing funding for public charter schools, and (10) regarding criticizing the Biden administration's practices regarding illegal immigration. 1. News Nation: Oklahoma AG: We can’t fight crime in half the state Oklahoma’s attorney general is asking the Supreme Court to allow his state to prosecute crimes on Native American reservations, as nearly 2 million people living in the eastern half of his state are effectively immune to criminal cases at the state level. 2. The Oklahoman: Oklahoma attorney general urges lawmakers to pursue legislation on school bathroom access John O’Connor urged lawmakers to “act while there is still an opportunity during session,” according to a letter from his deputy solicitor general, Zach West. 3. The Shawnee News-Star: Oklahoma AG joins fight against rising gas prices Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor and 15 other state attorneys, as part of a coalition, are asking President Joe Biden stop federal attempts to impose regulations that increase Americans’ energy costs. 4. OK Energy Today: AG blames Biden for regulations that hurt America’s energy costs Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor and 15 other state attorneys general are demanding President Joe Biden stop federal attempts to impose excessive regulations that increase Americans’ energy costs. 5. Campus Reform: 15 states push back against Biden's attempt to strip Title IX protections Fifteen states are banding together to threaten legal action against the Biden administration’s latest move to strip away protections for women’s sports. 6. KFOR: Oklahoma Attorney General files embezzlement charges against contractor Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor brought embezzlement charges against a contractor in Oklahoma County who allegedly did not complete projects after receiving money from his clients. 7. KOCO: Oklahoma leaders demand President Biden embrace domestic oil, gas production Oklahoma leaders are demanding that President Joe Biden embrace domestic oil and gas production. Gov. Kevin Stitt, Attorney General John O'Connor and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe all urged President Biden to take the necessary steps to reduce energy prices at home and globally. 8. Journal Record: AG backs doctors on ivermectin Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor said Tuesday his office has found no legal basis for medical boards to discipline doctors for prescribing ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. 9. KOCO: Oklahoma AG charges man with first-degree murder in connection with fentanyl death The attorney general's office said the suspect allegedly sold fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to a 27-year-old man in September 2021. 10. KTUL: Oklahoma attorney general files border-crisis lawsuit against Biden administration Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor joined a multi-state border-crisis lawsuit Friday against the Biden administration. 11. (Fox 23) Oklahoma AG O’Connor, other leaders call for OSHA to remove COVID vaccine mandate Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor has partnered with 27 other attorneys general to ask the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers. 12. (News on 6) Oklahoma's Attorney General Joins Lawsuit Against Facebook Oklahoma attorney general John O'Connor joins a bipartisan antitrust lawsuit against Facebook. Forty-eight attorneys general from across the country said Facebook's parent company Meta illegally bought competitors like Instagram and WhatsApp to become a monopoly. 13. Journal Record: AG calls court’s action victory for state Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor on Monday described a court ruling rejecting an appeal in a murder case as a victory for the state in its ongoing crusade to turn back the landmark McGirt vs. Oklahoma decision. 14. AG John O'Connor Files 5 Lawsuits Challenging Vaccine Mandate Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor is fighting back against the Biden administration. 15. Oklahoma AG files lawsuit over federal military vaccination requirement Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against the Biden administration seeking to halt the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees and the Oklahoma Nation
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am one of six children born to a railroad machinist and stay at home mother. I value hard work and strongely believe that the American Dream is alive and well. The missions of the Attorney General's Office are to protect public safety, protect the interests, rights, and liberties of the people of Oklahoma and of the state of Oklahoma. It is the responsibility of the Attorney General to represent and defend the state of Oklahoma in lawsuits and at agencies/boards and commissions. The Attorney General's Office has a lot of authority. The Attorney General should be long on common sense, level-headed, justice-driven, and a person who seeks and relies on wisdom from God. The Attorney General should vigorously prosecute public corruption. The Attorney General should speak for those whose voices are not heard, like the unborn. The motivation of the Attorney General must be honest, hard-working, extremely competent public service. My legislative priorities are to have public safety laws, which are clear and understandable, and to promote transparency in government. The government is instituted to serve the people, not vise-versa.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
