Lawmaker who tried to criminalize abortion to run for Congress

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A Republican state senator in Oklahoma who unsuccessfully tried to criminalize abortion has announced plans to challenge GOP U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin next year.
Sen. Joseph Silk, who is from Broken Bow, said on Thursday that he’ll try to unseat Mullin, who has served four terms representing eastern Oklahoma in the U.S. House.
In a statement, Silk says that he chose to enter the 2020 Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District because he was frustrated with what he called the “very liberal” leadership in the Oklahoma Legislature.
Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in both the Oklahoma House and Senate.
Mullin’s chief of staff, Mike Stopp, says that Mullin intends to run for another term, but he declined to comment on Silk’s candidacy.