OKLAHOMA CITY — A Democratic state senator from Oklahoma City says he plans to run for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. James Lankford.
State Sen. Al McAffrey told The Associated Press Wednesday that he would formally announce his candidacy on Thursday.
A U.S. Navy veteran and former Oklahoma City police officer, McAffrey was the first openly gay person elected to the Oklahoma Legislature when he won his state House seat in 2006. He then won election to the state Senate in 2012.
Get the Daily Brief
The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you:
McAffrey will be forced to give up his Senate seat in order to run for the U.S. House.
McAffrey is the first Democrat to jump into the race. Several Republicans already have announced plans to seek the post.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
