Oklahoma Resists Democratic Wave and Republicans Hold Statewide Power
Voters left federal and statewide control with Republicans, a result that will shape the next legislative session’s priorities and the balance of power at the Capitol.
Overview
- On Tuesday Republicans won all five of Oklahoma’s U.S. House seats, with incumbents Frank Lucas, Josh Brecheen, Tom Cole and Stephanie Bice reelected and Mark Tedford taking the 1st District seat.
- Democrats flipped six seats in the Oklahoma House, increasing their caucus to 26 members and giving the party its largest delegation in roughly two decades.
- Republicans will keep supermajorities in both legislative chambers and swept every statewide office on the ballot, a result party leaders said affirmed voter support for conservative policies.
- Several races were tightly contested: Stephanie Bice beat Democrat Jena Nelson by about 3,000 votes, Democrats defeated five Republican incumbents including Tulsa’s T.J. Marti, and they won an open seat in Comanche County.
- The larger Democratic minority plans to focus on education, health care and state employee pay but will need GOP cooperation to pass bills, a dynamic that will affect everyday costs and services for Oklahomans in the coming year.