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Sparks Out, Bass In As Oklahoma Senate Democratic Leader

State Sen. Randy Bass (D-Lawton) pushing to get bill heard allowing voters to block horse slaughter plants, flanked by Canadian County Undersheriff Chris West and Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan.
Oklahoma Senate

Democratic state Sen. Randy Bass of Lawton has been tapped to lead Senate Democrats after the 2014 elections, ousting the caucus' previous selection of a state senator from Norman.

Both Bass and state Sen. John Sparks confirmed to The Associated Press Thursday the 12-member Senate Democratic caucus had selected Bass to be minority leader-elect in the fall, but declined to discuss the matter further.

Bass said the caucus would release a joint statement after candidate filing ends on Friday.

Both Sparks and Bass were vying to replace Claremore attorney Sen. Sean Burrage, who is resigning.

Sparks was picked in February as the Democrats' next leader, but wrote a newspaper editorial two weeks ago supporting a generous tax incentive for the oil and gas industry that many Democrats oppose.

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