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Paul Blair
Edmond pastor Paul Blair lost Tuesday, Aug. 23, to Air Force veteran Adam Pugh in SD 41's GOP runoff. (Screenshot)

After losing in Tuesday’s GOP runoff, Edmond pastor Paul Blair asserted that Oklahoma “has got no future” in a defiant letter Wednesday evening issued through his advocacy organization, Reclaiming America for Christ.

Blair, who received 45.9 percent of 7,969 votes cast in State Senate District 41, quoted Gen. Jerry Boykin as having recently said, “If there is no place in this Legislature for a guy like Paul Blair, the State of Oklahoma has got no future.”

Like Boykin, Blair is a conservative Christian with significant clout on a national-movement level, and his 400-word screed went out of its way to remind readers of the twice-lost candidate’s supposedly impeccable conservative profile:

In a normal world, you would think that a hometown boy who went on to play professional football, built a three decade successful hometown business and successfully pastored a hometown church for 15 years would be a popular candidate.   When you add to the professional resume a 27 year marriage with no scandals, divorce or DUI’s, plus, being a nationally recognized speaker on the subjects of the Constitution and the founder’s principles of government – you would think that man would be well prepared for office.  Add to that the support of Senator Coburn, Senator Cruz, Congressman Russell, Congressman Bridenstine and host of national Conservative Christian champions, plus the support of local community leaders – you would think that candidate might bring home 90% of the vote in the “reddest state” in the union.    But our world has changed.

Blair’s indignation at the voters of his hometown rings unusual, although charges of racism and bigotry that the candidate highlighted in a bizarre press conference have likely stressed his family:

Paul Blair
(Screenshot)

A different way to lose

While Blair’s letter rails upon “special interest groups” and argues that “nothing” ever changes at the Oklahoma Capitol, another Christian Oklahoman who lost in a GOP Senate runoff Tuesday took a different tack with his post-defeat statement.

Matt Stacy, who received 40.5 percent of the GOP vote in Senate District 23 against Lonnie Paxton, highlighted the pleasure he gained from taking part in American democracy.

“I hope you will give Lonnie Paxton and his family your prayers going forward,” he wrote on Facebook to supporters.

Matt Stacy
(Screenshot)

While Blair and Stacy would seem to have different campaign styles, the former’s letter sours the water it sits in like bad lemons. The latter’s words make him look like a nice enough guy who can lose with grace and dignity.

For as much as Paul Blair talks about his football career, you’d think he could have shaken hands with his opponent after the game.

Blair’s full letter is pasted below for context, and here is his “concession” speech as found on YouTube wherein he further refers to himself as “an ex-college (football) star”:

To my friends and supporters,

After being interviewed on the Glenn Beck Radio Program last week, Glenn, Pat and Stu had the following conversation, “Have you heard anybody stronger than Paul Blair?”  Their combined answer was, “No.”

The people had a clear choice – not only in Edmond, but in several key races across the state of Oklahoma.  Unfortunately, it was a clean sweep for those being supported by the special interest groups.  Faces change at the Capitol, but nothing else does.  The same powerbrokers keep pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into these campaigns and keep a stranglehold on our state government.   The same group that drove our state into this $2 billion hole has kept control.

I am thankful to respected leaders like Senator Tom Coburn, Congressman Steve Russell and Congressman Jim Bridenstine for trying to break that grip and boldly supporting my campaign.  As Senator Coburn said, “Paul Blair will not sell out to the special interests.”

Thank you to all of my volunteers and supporters for standing strong with me during this campaign.  You worked tirelessly making calls, knocking doors and writing letters.  We did everything we could do with a budget that was about 1/3 of what our opponent had to spend.

In a normal world, you would think that a hometown boy who went on to play professional football, built a three decade successful hometown business and successfully pastored a hometown church for 15 years would be a popular candidate.   When you add to the professional resume a 27 year marriage with no scandals, divorce or DUI’s, plus, being a nationally recognized speaker on the subjects of the Constitution and the founder’s principles of government – you would think that man would be well prepared for office.  Add to that the support of Senator Coburn, Senator Cruz, Congressman Russell, Congressman Bridenstine and host of national Conservative Christian champions, plus the support of local community leaders – you would think that candidate might bring home 90% of the vote in the “reddest state” in the union.    But our world has changed.

As my friend, American War Hero and commander of Delta Force, General Jerry Boykin said last weekend, “If there is no place in this legislature for a guy like Paul Blair, the State of Oklahoma has got no future.” 

We will not be working from within, but we will continue our work from the outside.  Stay on board with our continuing Reclaiming America for Christ and Protect Life and Marriage efforts.

Always in the fight,

Patriot and Pastor Paul Blair

(Update: This post was updated at 10:25 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, to include the above video.)