Oklahoman A former state legislator with a history of making controversial remarks about Muslims is running for chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. Former Rep. John Bennett, of Sallisaw, made a name for himself in the Oklahoma Legislature by frequently targeting followers of Islam. Now, Bennett, who served eight years in the Oklahoma House, is one of three candidates vying to lead the Oklahoma GOP. In a 2014 town hall meeting, Bennett said the Islamic faith “is a cancer in our nation that needs to be cut out.” He also called the world’s second largest religion a sociopolitical movement intent on world domination and destruction of Western civilization.