James Lankford because Lankford declined to object to counting of the electoral votes in Congress, formalizing Biden's victory. Bennett also criticized another fellow Republican, U.S. Representative Stephanie Bice, for voting to create a January 6 commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack. After becoming chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Bennett started declining to give interviews citing that "the media lacks intellectual honesty." 2022 congressional campaign In 2022, Bennett ran for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in a 14 candidate Republican primary. He resigned as the Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party on April 30, 2022, to focus on his campaign. Bennett's candidacy for the 2nd congressional district was denounced by the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Muscogee) in Oklahoma for his support of disestablishing their reservations. The tribes stated in a united letter "Candidates who seek to restrict our rights and disestablish our reservations, after the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed twice that they have always existed, do not deserve to represent our state." Cherokee Nation chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said "His anti-Indian views — calling for the destruction of our reservations — reflect a 19th century mindset." During his campaign, Bennett called for US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci to be executed by a firing squad. He placed fourth in the primary. Electoral history 2010 John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary. 2012 John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary. 2014 John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary and General Election 2016 John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary. 2022 References 21st-century American politicians American conspiracy theorists American critics of Islam American gun rights activists Anti-indigenous racism in the United States Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections Living people Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Oklahoma Republican Party chairs People from Sallisaw, Oklahoma United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) United States Marines Year of birth missing (living people)