A wealthy Texas businessman with little connection to Oklahoma is one of four Republicans seeking to unseat incumbent 4th District Congressman Tom Cole. The Republican primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th.
Paul Bonder, a self-proclaimed patriot and family man from Texas, said he now lives in Oklahoma. Mr. Bonder grew up in Wisconsin and spent his adult life in Illinois. He is the owner of Bondar Insurance Group in Oak Brook, Illinois and moved to Texas in 2020.
Records show Bonder holds a Texas driver's license and voted in the Texas election as recently as March 5, 2024. The transition to Oklahoma appears to be swift and parallel to the 2024 election cycle.
On March 25, Mr. Bonder filed papers to run for Oklahoma House District 0. Bonder's Oklahoma address was 3212 Rutherford Way, Norman. This is the same address listed as the home of Dr. Nicole Kish, a Norman optometrist who is running for mayor and is part of the group Unite Norman.
Mr. Bondar amended his federal election documents on May 3, changing the indicated districts from 0 to 4.
Bondar was not listed as a registered voter in Oklahoma until April 3. His Oklahoma voter registration is listed in Pontotoc County. On April 4, Mr. Bondar filed a declaration of candidacy with the Oklahoma State Board of Elections for the state's 4th District Congressional seat. One day later, on April 5, Bonder was issued an Oklahoma driver's license.
Why Paul Bonder says he decided to run for Oklahoma
Bondar told an Oklahoma City television station that he has invested in Oklahoma and that investment led him to run for Congress.
“I've been to different states across the country, most recently in Texas before going to Oklahoma,” Bonder told KFOR-TV. “I invested in Oklahoma. We purchased over 500 acres of land. We are building a very large forever home on this 500 acre land on a pond. So this is my It's a bigger effort than we did in Oklahoma.”
Bondar said the 500-acre ranch is located near Durant. The address extends well beyond the boundaries of the 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of 15 counties in south-central Oklahoma. It borders Texas to the south and extends north to include Norman, Moore, and most of south Oklahoma City. Lawton, Ada, and Ardmore are also in this area.
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Bondar's campaign registration lists Thomas Dutwiler as the campaign's treasurer. Dutwiler previously served as campaign finance treasurer for former Congressman George Santos. Mr. Santos represented New York's 3rd Congressional District until he was expelled from Congress on fraud charges.
Since filing, Bonder has launched an aggressive campaign against Cole. In his ad, Mr. Bonder labeled Mr. Cole as a career politician who essentially wasted public money and has been absent from the House district for years. Bonder says she is a Trump supporter and is seen in the commercial holding a cutout of President Trump.
“I definitely think someone needs to come forward and run a campaign,” Bondar told the TV station. “I think Mr. Cole has basically continued to run unchallenged.”
Cole, a Republican, has held the seat since 2003 and was recently appointed chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Prior to becoming a member of Congress, Mr. Cole served as Oklahoma Secretary of State from 1995 until 1999. He was previously a member of the Oklahoma State Senate. Cole, a Chickasaw, is one of five Native Americans registered with Congress as tribal members.
In addition, Cole holds regular public meetings in District 4.
What are the chances that incumbent Congressman Tom Cole will lose the election?
Defeating Cole could prove to be very difficult. Last week, Mr. Kohl's campaign countered Mr. Bondar's attacks. Mr. Cole said in his latest ad that Mr. Bondar is trying to buy a seat in Congress and that Mr. Bondar does not own real estate in Oklahoma. Kohl's ad notes that the congressman has been endorsed by President Trump.
Kohl's ad accused Bondar of trying to “buy” a seat on OK-4, claiming he didn't live in Oklahoma at all.
“Paul Bondar bought a lot of nice things, including a mansion in Illinois that he paid no taxes on. And Bondar's mansion in Texas, the Texas he swore he would live in when he voted,” Cole said. the ad stated. How many weeks ago? “
On Tuesday, Mr. Bondar's campaign pushed back against Mr. Cole's claims. The campaign released images of warranty deeds showing Bonder purchased property in Johnson County in 2022 and in Atoka County in April 2023.
“Despite what Mr. Cole wants you to believe, I own land in Oklahoma. I've built a house on over 500 acres north of Durant, and I'm currently renting a house in Stonewall.” Bonder said in a statement to The Oklahoman. “I am now proud to be an Oklahoman and even more excited about the future of our great state if elected.”
Bonder said Cole has served in the House of Representatives for 22 years, but hasn't voted in person in Oklahoma in more than 20 years.
“As for Cole's unsubstantiated claims that I'm buying seats. Why would I buy a seat from an appropriations chairman who has billions of dollars at his disposal?” Bonder said. “I'm running because I'm new to Oklahoma and I want to get rid of our worst career politicians and provide a solution to Oklahoma's 15% poverty rate. Unlike Mr. Cole, , I am self-funded and not beholden to special interests.”
The other three Republicans in the race have so far remained silent. Candidates include Nick Hankins, Rick Harris and Andrew Hayes.
Hankins is an Altus native and has worked as an IT professional, he said. Mr. Hankins said on his website that he would not vote for any bill in Congress that does not protect residents' freedoms.
Hayes served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2006 to 2008 and attended Cameron University and the University of Oklahoma. He said he worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and had experience in farming. Hayes is affiliated with the Ludwig von Mises Institute, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and the Free Literature Foundation.
Mr. Harris did not provide biographical information.
The winner of the June 18 primary will face James Stacy, an independent and winner of the Democratic primary. Mary Brannon and Cody McCauley are vying for the Democratic nomination in the 4th District.