2004 partisan transition in the Oklahoma House and term limits

Abstract

The Oklahoma House of Representatives experienced two major transitions with the 2004 election-the removal of long-term incumbents through term limits and a shift in partisan control. Many changes occurred in the House as a result of these phenomena. This work is an attempt to disentangle the effects of these simultaneous evenly. The findings indicate That most of the effects documented here were caused by the partisan shift and were only indirectly related to term limits. Term limits did accelerate trends already in place. In addition, contrary to findings in other states. term limits may have ushered in a "new breed" of legislator in Oklahoma.