Oklahoma Republicans touted the potential for a “red wave” on the polls earlier than Tuesday’s basic election, however as the ultimate outcomes rolled in, the social gathering’s registration benefit in rural areas and straight-party voting helped the GOP keep its grip on state authorities.
That crimson wave was extra a heat, crimson bathtub, with many Oklahoma voters seemingly content material with the message of most Republican candidates and their information in workplace.
Almost 70% of the 481,000 voters who selected straight-party voting in Tuesday’s election voted Republican, in response to unofficial outcomes from the Oklahoma State Election Board. Another 29% selected the Democrats, with 1% selecting Libertarian.
Gov. Kevin Stitt received re-election by 14 proportion factors, brushing again Democrat Joy Hofmeister and two different challenges in a near-repeat of his maiden run for workplace in 2018. Republicans saved all statewide places of work and picked up a seat within the state Senate. Democrats managed to achieve a seat within the House, though each chambers stay in GOP supermajority standing.
The state’s congressional delegation, in the meantime, remained solidly in GOP arms. Sen. James Lankford received his second full time period and Markwayne Mullin received within the race for the unexpired time period of Sen. Jim Inhofe, who introduced his retirement final yr. All 5 of the House members received reelection, together with Rep. Stephanie Bice in a newly redrawn fifth Congressional District and Rep. Frank Lucas within the third District, which now stretches into components of central and south Oklahoma City.
Despite a scattering of public polls within the last weeks of the election displaying a aggressive gubernatorial race, rural voters once more proved key. Hofmeister received simply three of the state’s 77 counties, with wins within the populous Oklahoma, Cleveland and Tulsa counties.
Turnout was down from 2018, with simply over 50% of registered voters displaying up to the polls this yr. That compares to 56% in 2018.
‘It’s Just Easier’
Almost 42% of voters marked a straight-party possibility on the ballot this yr, in response to the Election Board. That’s up from 40% in 2018 and 34% in 2014.
In Weatherford, a college city of about 12,000 situated an hour west of Oklahoma City, many Republican voters took benefit of the state’s straight-party voting possibility.
David Sadler, 69, had inflation, border management and crime on his thoughts as he sat down at a voting station inside Life Fellowship Church simply earlier than 6 p.m Tuesday.
Before Tuesday, Sadler had by no means made use of the choice to fill in a single field on the prime of his ballot that might apply to each race. But dim lighting and polarized politics received him over this time.
“I usually don’t do that, but I don’t see real well and it was dark in there so it helped me, it made it easier,” Sadler mentioned. “I probably would have voted for all Republicans anyway. I opposed 100% of Democratic policies. I don’t agree with any of ‘em.”
Spending was prime of thoughts for Craig Aycock, 56, when he voted straight-party Republican.
“It’s just easier,” Aycock mentioned. “Especially when you have as many races as we did this time.”
Larry and Louella Vaughn additionally voted straight-party Republican. They’ve each voted this fashion up to now and have voted in particular person races, relying on the candidates, the couple mentioned.
“We need to strengthen the Republican Party, and our conservative values, especially at the national level,” mentioned 60-year-old Larry Vaughn, who sells Dodge truck components in Weatherford. “I feel like strengthening our defense is something we need to focus on, caring for veterans and homeless and we need more regulation for medical marijuana. The only way to do that is to vote straight Republican, so that was the best option for us.”
Still, many citizens don’t see the purpose in voting for a straight-party ticket. The Election Board mentioned Oklahoma voters can select the straight-party possibility however nonetheless override it for any specific race the place they need to select a candidate of one other social gathering.
Debra Lee, 59, who voted at Gateway Community Church in Edmond, mentioned she has voted a straight ticket up to now however selected to not this yr.
“If you want to stay ‘conservative’ then voting straight ticket is a good option,” she mentioned. “I have other ideas.” Lee crossed events to vote towards Republican Stephanie Bice however forgot who she solid her ballot for.
That sentiment was echoed by Adrian Escobar, 22, of Warr Acres. He voted at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Warr Acres.
“I did not vote straight ticket,” Escobar mentioned. “It’s important to not throw votes blindly. Just because someone is registered in the same party as you means their morals align with yours. What they care about is not necessarily what you care about.”
Also in Warr Acres, Myranda Huddleston, 37, mentioned she wished to vote Stitt out of workplace after seeing a number of scandals unfold throughout his first time period, together with plans to build a new Governor’s mansion, and a contract between the Tourism Department and Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen that price taxpayers hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. She averted voting down social gathering strains throughout this election, she mentioned.
“I never vote straight party,” Huddleston mentioned. “I don’t affiliate with any specific party. I do my research and I vote for who I like.”
Election Fallout
Democrats can declare some shiny spots from the final election. Democrat Vicki Behenna beat Republican Kevin Calvey within the race for Oklahoma County district legal professional. All however one state Senate Democratic incumbents received re-election. The exception: J.J. Dosset, who misplaced his race in Tulsa. House Democrats added one member to their ranks as Suzanne Schreiber received an open seat in Tulsa County.
Still, Stitt and legislative leaders can now declare a mandate to place in place insurance policies like tax cuts and college vouchers, which nonetheless face skepticism from some within the House and Senate nervous about their rural college districts dropping funding.
Internal GOP caucus politics could come into play within the subsequent legislative session, which begins in February. Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat faces a management problem from Sen. Rob Standridge of Norman.
With his second and last gubernatorial time period secured, Stitt will little question face hypothesis over ambitions for increased workplace. Stitt brushed apart such hypothesis as he ran for re-election this yr, however he could make the case to potential nationwide GOP donors that he’s been examined by large quantities of out of doors spending focusing on him in a statewide marketing campaign. He’s additionally taken on tribal leaders, lots of whom endorsed Hofmeister on this yr’s election, and what he likes to name “special interests” like longtime politicians and instructor’s unions which might be the everyday foes for a lot of engaged Republican voters.
Reporters Lionel Ramos, Whitney Bryen and Ari Fife contributed to this story.
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