The Oklahoman’s Washington based reporter has filed a story outlining how a group backing state Rep. T.W. Shannon in the U.S. Senate race has launched the first negative attack in that race, financing an ad that criticizes U.S. Rep. James Lankford for some budget votes.

The ad, paid for by Oklahomans for a Conservative Future, began airing late last week in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa media markets. Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, suggested the ad was in response to recent ads showing him ahead.

T.W. Shannon

Lankford and Shannon, a Lawton Republican, are the front-runners in the Republican primary to replace U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, who is retiring at the end of the congressional session. The primary is June 24.

Both candidates are supported by so-called dark money groups — ones that don’t reveal their donors — but those groups have run positive ads for the past several weeks.

The new ad says Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, voted “with liberals” to raise the debt ceiling twice. And it says Lankford voted for “the Obama budget” that increased spending by $65 billion and cut military funding.

Rep. James Lankford, Oklahoma

The ad does not give roll call vote citations to back up its claims. It’s not clear what the ad means about Lankford voting for President Barack Obama’s budget.

Information filed with the Federal Election Commission shows the group spent about $246,000 on the ad, with most of the money used to purchase air time.

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The Republican Women’s Club of Tulsa County will host candidates; T. W. Shannon, James Langford, Randy Brogdon, Eric McCray, Kevin Crow and Andy Craig at the Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills, 1902 E. 71st Street, Tuesday June 10 at 11:00 to 1:00 pm. Click here to RSVP.