Oklahoma Insurance Broker to Seek U.S. House Post

A former state lawmaker is officially jumping into the crowded Republican primary for the open U.S. House seat in eastern Oklahoma.

Former state Rep. Wayne Pettigrew formally announced his candidacy in his hometown of McAlester.

The 49-year-old businessman and insurance broker plans to launch a three-day campaign and visit more than a dozen eastern Oklahoma communities to talk about his candidacy.

Current U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, announced this summer he would not run for re-election.

Pettigrew joins a crowded GOP primary field that includes Adair County businessman Markwayne Mullin, state Rep. George Faught of Muskogee, former Tishomingo Mayor Dustin Rowe, and retired Lt. Col. Dakota Wood.

No Democrats have formally announced plans to seek the post.