Political career Mickey Edwards

congressman edwards

in 1974, edwards challenged 24-year democratic incumbent john jarman , won, holding jarman 51 percent of vote in bad year republicans. however, oklahoma city had been trending republican time.

jarman switched parties , became republican in january 1975 in protest of several older, more conservative democrats being stripped of committee chairmanships. did not run reelection in 1976. edwards defeated former state attorney general g. t. blankenship republican nomination, , narrowly defeated democratic businessman tom dunlap, son of academic e. t. dunlap, 3,900 votes. however, never face general election contest anywhere near close, , reelected 7 times.

during edwards’s 16 years in congress, served variously on house budget , appropriations committees , ranking member of appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations. member of house republican leadership, serving chairman of house republican policy committee, party s fourth-ranking leadership position. however, in 1992, defeated in republican primary—the real contest in now-heavily republican district. didn t make runoff, finishing third behind state representative ernest istook (who went on win in november) , former federal prosecutor bill price. edwards loss due involvement in house banking scandal; wrote 386 overdrafts totaling $54,000.

edwards 1 of 3 founding trustees of heritage foundation , national chairman of american conservative union. along former white house counsel lloyd cutler, has served co-chairman of citizens independent courts, national organization devoted preserving judicial independence, , co-chairman former white house counsel, abner mikva, of citizens constitution, national organization concerned limiting use of constitutional amendments substitute normal legislative process. edwards has served co-chairman of brookings institution/council on foreign relations task force on resources international affairs brookings working group on campaign finance reform , 5 years chairman of annual conservative political action conference. has served on board of directors of constitution project , director of congressional policy task forces advising ronald reagan s 1980 presidential campaign.

in radio interview on fresh air terry gross on november 5, 2008, edwards said had voted barack obama in 2008 general election.