Voters should hold absent state representative accountable, Oklahoma House leader says

OKLAHOMA CITY — The leader of the Oklahoma House said Thursday that voters should be the ones to hold a state representative who hasn’t voted in two weeks accountable.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said it’s up to the voters of House District 77 to hold Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, accountable at the ballot box for not coming to the Capitol and missing votes on over 100 pieces of legislation.

“Ultimately, the reason I know that he’s not voting is because you guys (the media) keep talking about it,” Hilbert said. “I really don’t spend a lot of my days thinking about John Waldron, except every Thursday when we talk about it.” 

Waldron announced April 16 that he was resigning from office, but it wouldn’t be effective until Oct. 1. 

April 16 is also the last date Waldron voted on the House floor, legislative records show.

Waldron will continue collecting paychecks as a representative until his resignation goes into effect this fall. State lawmakers earn $47,500 annually. Waldron also announced that he is suspending his reelection campaign.

Waldron’s resignation came after he told nonprofit media outlet NonDoc that he used artificial intelligence to make a GIF of him and a potential election candidate kissing and then sent the image to the woman while serving as chair of Oklahoma’s Democratic Party. Waldron stepped down as chair of the Democratic Party in December, but continued to serve in the state House. 

Waldron did not return messages seeking comment Thursday.

While the House rules state that no member shall be absent from session without leave, Hilbert said it should be voters who hold Waldron accountable. 

“The Constitution is very clear about how members are elected to this body, and they’re ultimately accountable to the voters and the voters of his district,” he said. “His name is on the ballot, and they have the chance for accountability this summer when they choose who they want to represent them.” 

Hilbert said his office hasn’t received a copy of Waldron’s resignation and he has yet to be presented with evidence of wrongdoing. He has repeatedly said he knew nothing about Waldron’s transgressions until it was reported by media outlets. 

Waldron previously filed for reelection and faces one primary challenger in his district. In his resignation letter, he said he will not assume the office even if elected. 

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said to her knowledge, Waldron does not intend to return to the Capitol to finish out the last weeks of session. 

She previously said the House Democratic Caucus had asked Waldron to step down from his House seat and not run for reelection. 

While she said members of her caucus have questioned Waldron’s choice to resign effective Oct. 1, no one can force him to resign earlier, and it’s the date he proposed. 

She said she doesn’t know if Waldron’s constituents have been contacting his office, but he needs to face the people he represents. 

“There are members who have missed for all sorts of reasons, that aren’t here for a period of days, and action hasn’t been taken,” Munson said. “And I don’t know what actions can be taken, but there is a responsibility to your constituents, and I think that he has to answer to them.”