Voters on Tuesday, June 16th determined the winners of the primary elections of some races and sent others into runoff elections to be held on August 25. Runoff elections are held in any election where one person does not attain 50% of the vote.
There was one state question on the ballot, State Question 832, on raising the minimum wage and linking it to a national inflation index. The question failed with 55.4% voting no and 44.6% voting yes. (See related story below)
In the state elections for Congress:
The U.S. Senate had one opening left by Sen. Markwayne Mullin resigning to take the Secretary position for Homeland Security. The Special Election race drew six candidates on the Republican side, but U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern won the Republican primary with 69.8% of the vote (267,222 votes). He will face the winner of the Democrat runoff election between N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas (47.19%) and Jim Priest (23.85%) in November as well as the Independent candidates Curtis Stinnett and Ron Meinhardt.
The 1st District Congressional Republican primary was very crowded with 11 candidates running originally. Dan Rooney dropped out when Jackson Lahmeyer was backed by Pres. Donald Trump, however his name was still on the ballot and he did receive 3.49% of the vote. At the end of the night Mark Tedford had 32.15% and the next highest candidate was Lahmeyer with 25.88% and they would face each other in the August runoff election. The day before the election The Daily Mail ran an article detailing that Lahmeyer, a pastor at Sheridan Church, had sent many illicit texts to a woman who was not his wife. Lahmeyer responded on Monday owning that he had crossed a boundary, but that the article had twisted and distorted the facts. That he and his wife had already dealt with this issue and were prepared to continue.
The day after the election, Wednesday, June 17, Lahmeyer suspended his campaign and also notified the Election Board of his decision. President Trump the same day unendorsed Lahmeyer and endorsed Tedford. Because Lahmeyer notified the Election Board that he was dropping out in a timely manner, Tedford will proceed to the general election without a runoff and will face the only Democrat candidate who filed, John Croisant.
The 2nd District Congressional race will see incumbent Josh Brecheen with 79.20% of the primary vote going to the general election on November 3rd facing Brandon Wade who won the Democrat primary with 73.73% of the vote and the Independent candidate Ronnie Hopkins.
In the State Offices:
In an almost even race the Governor’s Republican primary, the runoff race will pit current Attorney General Gentner Drummond against Mike Mazzei, they earned 26.25% and 25.97% respectively. The winner of that race will face State Rep. 69.99Cyndi Munson who won the Democrat primary with 74.93%, and the Independent candidates, Jerry Griffin, Robert E. Brooks, Sr. and Orlando Lynn Bush.
The Lieutenant Governor Republican primary saw T. W. Shannon win with 53.76 percent of the vote and he will face the lone Democrat filer, Kelly Forbes in November.
The hotly contested Attorney General’s Republican primary was decided by 10% of the vote as Jon Echols won with 55% and Jeff Starling 45%. Echols will face Nick Coffey in the November General election.
State Treasurer incumbent Todd Russ was upended by the current State Auditor Cindy Byrd with 61.65% of the vote in the Republican Primary for State Treasurer. Byrd will compete with Libertarian Kiefer Perry in the November General Election.
The position of Superintendant of Public Instruction saw seven Republicans file and two Democrats. The Republican primary ended in a runoff between Robert Franklin with 22.59% and James Taylor with 19.68% of the vote. The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Jenettie Marshall who won her primary with 57.69% of the vote.
The Commissioner of Labor was an open seat and five Republican filed for it with state Reps. Kevin West and John Pfeiffer winning 41.78% and 35.27% respectively. They will face each other in the runoff in August and then face the lone Democrat Kevin Dawson in the general election.
There were four Republicans in the Insurance Commissioner race which will go to a runoff election between Bob Sullivan with 37.37% and Marty L. Quinn with 27.68% of the vote. the winner of which will face Democrat Craig macIntyre in the November election.
There were two Republicans and three Democrats competing in their primaries with clear winners in each in the Corporation Commission race. On the Republican side Brad Boles won with 55.27% of the vote over Justin Hornback with 44.73%. Boles will face Rhonda Eastman who won the Democrat primary in November election with 70% of the vote.
In Tulsa County offices:
In the hotly contested District Attorney’s Republican primary Incumbent Steve Kunzweiler handily won over Colleen McCarty 59.70% to 40.30%. No other parties filed in this race, so Kunzweiler has been re-elected.
Incumbent District 1 Tulsa County Commissioner Stan Sallee won his race over Idris Shelby with 66.49% of the vote and is elected.
Incumbent Tulsa County Treasurer John Fothergill won with 65.61% of the vote over Brandon Shreffler and is elected.
In the State Senate Races:
District 2 Ally Seifried 66.48 % won over Payton Pepin and will face Democrat Randy Cowling of Owasso in the general election.
District 12 – Todd Gollihare won with 69.58% of the vote against Wm Craig Stump, and will face Democrat Erica Watkins in November.
District 34 – Incumbent Dana Prieto lead the votes with 29.42 % and will be in a Republican runoff election with Aaron Forst in August and will face Democrat Amy Hossain in the November election.
District 36 – Incumbent John Haste easily won over Philip A Weiland with 79.50% of the vote in the Republican primary and will face Democrat Rick Larsen in November.
In the State House Races:
District 8 – Incumbent Republican Tom Gann won over Todd Rice 54.04% to 45.96% to win re-election as no other party filed.
District 11 – Incumbent Republican John B. Kane won with 69.99 % of the vote over Wendi Stearman (30.01%) to win re-election.
District 12 – Incumbent Republican Mark Chapman won with 56.74% versus Sandy Hodges with 43.26%. Chapman will face Democrat Tiffany Prater in November.
District 24 – Incumbent Republican Chris Banning easily won with 78.49% over Casey Fixico Sutterfield in the primary but will face Independent Joshua Conant in November.
District 29 – Republican Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert handily won with 75.55% over Brian Jackson to retain his seat in the house. He has been re-elected as no other party filed.
District 69 – Four Republicans filed for this open seat. Sheila Dills won it outright with 50.05% of the vote. She will face Democrat Tyler Price in November.
District 73 – Democrat Ron Stewart beat Ed Ross in this primary with 64.88% of the vote and has been elected as no other parties filed.
District 74 – Two Republicans faced off and Incumbent Kevin Norwood won the primary with 56.37% of the vote over Sheila Vancuren with 43.63%. Norwood will face Independent Aaron Brent in November.
District 78 – Democrat Kristina Gabriel won easily over John Waldron as he withdrew from the race, but still appeared on the ballot. Gabriel has been elected.
District 98 – Incumbent Republican Gabe Woolley easily won with 65.83 % of the vote to former Rep. Dean Davis’ 35.17%. Woolley will face Democrat Cathy Smythe in November.