There’s a contentious leadership race underway in the House Republican caucus involving Oklahoma’s very own Congressman Tom Cole. After loosing around 50 seats in the past two elections, House Republicans are eager to dump the current leadership…well, not exactly.

Cole, who many consider to be the godfather of Oklahoma Republican politics, has been chair of the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) since the Republicans lost the House in 2006. Pete Sessions, who lost to Cole for the post in 2006, is running again and is backed by the Minority Leader John Boehner. Despite House Republicans dismal performance in the recent election, the NRCC post is one of two contested leadership races. Despite a difficult political environment this last cycle, Republicans lost around 20 seats rather than the thirty expected.

So why is Cole being pushed out? Could it be that Boehner has not had the friendliest relations with Cole? According to a post at The Next Right, the White House is also backing Sessions? Why is that? Is it the fact Sessions is from Texas or Sessions’ connections to the Abramoff circle?

The only ray of hope in all this is that backbencher Mike Pence will be Republican Conference Chairman next session.

So what happens if Cole is ousted? It is very well known Cole has harbored ambitions to one day be speaker of the House. In fact, when he was first elected, some of his staffers used to call him Mr. Speaker. If Cole is not reelected to his current post, will he stand for reelection in 2010?

Cole has openly discussed the possibility of running for governor in 2010. This brings up several more questions. It is rather obvious Congresswoman Mary Fallin is setting herself up to run for governor á la Ernest Istook (why else would you run commercials in Oklahoma’s biggest media market when you have a no-name opponent?). Will one demur to the other if Cole wants to run or will they run against each other? The latter scenario is probably unlikely.

The outcome of this leadership election has many potential implications for Oklahoma in 2010.

(If Cole decides to vacate his seat, I’m all ready to endorse recently elected State Senator Steve Russell who was the commander of the forces that captured Saddam Hussein.  I’m pretty sure he lives in the Fourth Congressional District.  Someone can correct me if I’m wrong.)