Research Contributes to Biggest Upset in Country

Case Studies

OK GOV, 2002

Stanford Campaigns has played a role in several successful statewide races, but few were as satisfying as the 2002 Oklahoma Governor’s race in which state Sen. Brad Henry came from more than 20 points down to win the biggest upset in the country for the Democrats—despite a national tide favoring the Republicans.

“…major upset…. the state’s biggest upset in history.” — The Oklahoma Daily, Nov. 6, 2002

“…the closest Governor’s contest in 32 years…” — Associated Press, Nov. 6, 2002

“We were the heavy favorite, and the underdog won.” — GOP nominee Steve Largent

The state party hired Stanford Campaigns to research Republican nominee Steve Largent, once considered a mortal lock for Governor. Charles Cook called it the second-safest Republican Governor’s seat in the country up for election that year.  Roll Call’s Stuart Rothenberg wrote, “I didn’t even give half a second of thought to the possibility that Oklahoma Republican Steve Largent would lose his bid for Governor…”
Our research helped write a different story. We discovered that Steve Largent favored the abolition of Social Security, the federal minimum wage and Medicare. The state party used our research in an aggressive earned-media strategy, while the Henry campaign told the story in television ads.

Brad Henry won by a few thousand votes in what was and still is considered the state’s biggest electoral upset.