John Bennett
Bennett in 2010
Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party
In office
April 10, 2021 – April 30, 2022
Preceded byDavid McLain
Succeeded byA.J. Ferate
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byGlen Bud Smithson
Succeeded byJim Olsen
Personal details
BornSequoyah, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNicole
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan

John R. Bennett is an American politician who served as the chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from April 2021 to April 2022 and as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2011 until 2019.

Bennett has been a controversial member of the Oklahoma Republican Party. He has been criticized for anti-Muslim comments[1] and for receiving an award from and collaborating with anti-Muslim groups such as the Center for Security Policy.[2][3]

Early life

Bennett served in the United States Marine Corps and worked as the pastor of Lee Creek Assembly of God in Muldrow, Oklahoma.[1] He served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.[4] He is a Christian of the Pentecostal denomination.

Politics

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Bennett was first elected to the Oklahoma Legislature in 2011. He served in the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature, 54th Oklahoma Legislature, 55th Oklahoma Legislature, and the 56th Oklahoma Legislature before retiring in 2019.

54th Legislature

In 2013, Bennett helped create the "counter-terrorism legislative caucus" and worked with Frank Gaffney and his Center for Security Policy (CSP) to try to "ban any foreign law that may limit Oklahomans' constitutional rights". The law was seen as an attempt to ban Sharia Law. The law was denounced by both the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)'s Oklahoma affiliate and the Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union.[5] Bennett was later given the "National Defender of Freedom" award by the CSP in 2016.[2] The CSP is a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group.[6]

At an 2014 event with constituents in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Bennett referred to Islam as "a cancer in our nation that needs to be cut out"[7] and claimed that there is "[no] difference between moderate and radical Islam."[8] Bennett also claimed that "90%" of the Qur'an "is violence."[9]

Later that year, Bennett was the author of successful legislation to require school districts to require schools to provide the same access to school facilities for religious groups as it does for other groups and allow the students to organize prayer groups.[10]

55th Oklahoma Legislature

In 2016, Bennett campaigned on introducing legislation to ban the CAIR from Oklahoma calling them a "terrorist organization."[8][1] He later hosted an interim legislative study to examine the threat of "radical Islam" posed to the state.[1]

Later that year in November, Bennett posted on his Facebook page a photograph of Hillary Clinton with a caption suggesting that she should be executed by firing squad. After the post caused controversy, Bennett said that it was "barracks talk" and that he was not advocating for Clinton's execution but said that he viewed Clinton as a traitor who should be imprisoned.[8] Later, Bennett continued to claim that Clinton was guilty of "treason" but called the remarks "sarcasm" and said he would never wish death toward any candidate.[11]

56th Oklahoma Legislature

In March 2017, during CAIR's third annual Oklahoma "Muslim Day" at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Bennett gave a questionnaire to three Muslim students who came to meet him. The questionnaire said: "The Koran, the sunna of Mohammed and Sharia Law of all schools say that the husband can beat his wife. Do you beat your wife?"[8][12][13] According to CAIR, this questionnaire "intentionally misinterpreted ideas [from the Koran] to try to slander Muslims." The survey was written by ACT! for America.[14]

Later that year, during debate on a proposal to increase taxes on oil and gas producers to fund services, Bennett said, regarding state agencies' reports that budget cuts would lead to service cuts: "That's terrorism. We should not be negotiating with terrorists, period. These agencies are using our citizens as pawns." Bennett also asserted that state agencies would later "threaten to extort money from us again." The "terrorist" agency that he was referring to provides long-term care to individuals with intellectual disabilities, services to elderly Americans, as well as those who are living in poverty.[15] Then-Governor Mary Fallin called the statement "unacceptable"[8] and it was condemned by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.[15]

After leaving office in 2019, Bennett joined former FBI agent John Guandolo's organization Understanding the Threat as its Vice President,[3] a part of the counter-jihad movement.[16]

Chairman of Oklahoma Republican Party

On April 10, 2021, John Bennett was elected chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party.[17][4] Bennett's election was considered controversial due to the Islamophobic remarks and coverage he had made during his tenure in the legislature.[18][8][1] CAIR-Oklahoma executive director Adam Soltani said that Bennett told him all mosques in Oklahoma are "jihadi training grounds" and that Bennett personally accused him of being "one of the biggest terrorists in Oklahoma."[8] Imad Enchassi, senior imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, was told by Bennett that he would "demolish my mosque and every mosque in town" and that he "was the biggest threat for the state of Oklahoma.[1]

In the role, Bennett broke tradition by publicly criticizing several incumbent Republicans such as James Lankford and Mitch McConnell.[19] Bennett supported primary challenger Jackson Lahmeyer against incumbent Oklahoma Senator James Lankford because Lankford declined to object to counting of the electoral votes in Congress, formalizing Biden's victory.[19] Bennett also criticized another fellow Republican, U.S. Representative Stephanie Bice, for voting to create a January 6 commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[19] After becoming chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Bennett started declining to give interviews citing that "the media lacks intellectual honesty."[20]

2022 congressional campaign

In 2022, Bennett ran for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in a 14 candidate Republican primary.[21] He resigned as the Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party on April 30, 2022, to focus on his campaign. Bennett's candidacy for the 2nd congressional district was denounced by the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Muscogee) in Oklahoma for his support of disestablishing their reservations.[22] The tribes stated in a united letter "Candidates who seek to restrict our rights and disestablish our reservations, after the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed twice that they have always existed, do not deserve to represent our state." Cherokee Nation chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said "His anti-Indian views — calling for the destruction of our reservations — reflect a 19th century mindset."[23] During his campaign, Bennett called for US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci to be executed by a firing squad.[24] He placed fourth in the primary.[25]

Electoral history

2010

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Oklahoma House District 2, General Election, November 2, 2010[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R Bennett 4,794 54.49
Democratic Glen Bud Smithson (incumbent) 4,004 45.51
Total votes 8,798 100.00

2012

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Oklahoma House District 2, General Election, November 6, 2012[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R Bennett 6,316 53.7
Democratic Rick Agent 5,437 46.3
Total votes 11,753 100.00

2014

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary and General Election

2016

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Oklahoma House District 2, General Election, November 8, 2016[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R Bennett 6,657 54.42
Democratic Tom Stites 5,576 45.58
Total votes 12,233 100.00

2022

Republican primary results for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Avery Frix 11,336 14.7
Republican Josh Brecheen 10,579 13.8
Republican Johnny Teehee 9,963 13.0
Republican John Bennett 8,713 11.3
Republican Guy Barker 8,444 11.0
Republican Marty Quinn 5,612 7.3
Republican Wes Nofire 4,859 6.3
Republican David Derby 4,204 5.5
Republican Chris Schiller 4,108 5.3
Republican Dustin Roberts 3,746 4.9
Republican Pamela Gordon 2,344 3.0
Republican Rhonda Hopkins 1,281 1.7
Republican Clint Johnson 1,128 1.5
Republican Erick Wyatt 615 0.8
Total votes 76,932 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Forman, Carmen (April 9, 2021). "Ex-Oklahoma lawmaker who asked Muslims if they beat their wives now running for GOP chairman". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Piggott, Stephen (November 4, 2016). "Oklahoma State Representative Receives Award from anti-Muslim Hate Group". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Understanding the Threat". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Anti-Islamic ex-lawmaker named Oklahoma GOP chairman". apnews.com. Associated Press. April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Sean (April 22, 2013). "Oklahoma Muslims fret about anti-Islamic rhetoric". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY". splcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  7. ↑ Sherman, Bill (September 16, 2014). "Rep. John Bennett stands behind 'threat of Islam' statements at Sallisaw Republican meeting". Tulsa World. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Goforth, Dylan (February 18, 2021). "Oklahoma's leading pro-gun group endorses 'Anti-Islam' former lawmaker for chairman of state's Republican Party". The Frontier. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  9. ↑ Oklahoma Republican under fire for racist anti-Muslim comments, accessed November 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ Lanning Curtis. Oklahoma Legislature Approves Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act 5NewsOnline.com (accessed March 14, 2014)
  11. ↑ "Oklahoma lawmaker writes 'firing squad' on Clinton post". apnews.com. Associated Press. November 2, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ Wang, Amy B. (March 5, 2017). "Muslim students tried to meet with a lawmaker. They were first asked: 'Do you beat your wife?'". The Washington Post.
  13. ↑ CAIR-OK to Host 3rd Annual 'Oklahoma Muslim Day at the Capitol' Archived March 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine CAIR
  14. ↑ "Muslim students trying to meet with a lawmaker were asked: 'Do you beat your wife?'".
  15. 1 2 "Apology demanded after lawmaker calls state agencies 'terrorists'". opea.org. OPEA – Oklahoma's Public Employees Association. November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  16. ↑ Pertwee, Ed (October 2017). 'Green Crescent, Crimson Cross': The Transatlantic 'Counterjihad' and the New Political Theology (PDF). London School of Economics. pp. 125, 268.
  17. ↑ "Congratulations to our newly elected Chairman, @USMC Veteran, 1st Sgt John Bennett!". twitter.com. OK Republican Party. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  18. ↑ Staff, Transcript (October 26, 2016). "State rep says local Muslim organizations are "here to destroy us"".
  19. 1 2 3 Blake Douglas (July 6, 2021). "Sen. Lankford responds to 'unheard of' lack of neutrality from state GOP chairman". Tulsa World. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  20. ↑ Jones, Perris (April 12, 2021). "State Democratic leaders, Muslim community call out Oklahoma GOP after Bennett named chair". KOCO News 5. ABC. KOCO.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  21. ↑ Gore, Hogan (April 22, 2022). "16 candidates comprise the field in dash for eastern Oklahoma congressional seat". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  22. ↑ Gore, Hogan; Forman, Carmen (April 24, 2022). "Oklahoma tribes chastise Republican candidate over plan to disestablish reservation". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  23. ↑ "A bipartisan array of leaders and political hopefuls support the tribes assertion of their rights. CD2 candidate John Bennett is not one of them. His anti-Indian views- calling for the destruction of our reservations- reflect a 19th century mindset". twitter.com. Chuck Hoskin Jr. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Republicans Cheer As Congressional Candidate Demands Fauci's Execution By Firing Squad". HuffPost. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "June 28 2022". okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  26. ↑ "SUMMARY RESULTS General Election — November 2, 2010". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  27. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races General Election — November 6, 2012". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  28. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races General Election — November 8, 2016". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
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