By Corey Shirey
Student Reporter
Political outsider and Tulsa Businessman Kevin Stitt has won the Oklahoma Governorship, defeating former State Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Stitt, a republican, despite being a novice at state politics, ran a strong campaign based on increasing transparency, streamlining state government and increasing the governor’s office hand in running state agency’s, whereas Edmondson, a democrat, campaigned on his experience from serving as a former State Attorney General, increasing funding for education and Medicaid expansion.
Along with holding onto the Governor’s mansion, republicans have won every statewide office, from Lieutenant Governor to Corporation Commissioner. This has been the trend since 2010, where republicans first swept into every statewide office. The only upset coming out of Tuesdays election in Oklahoma is in the 5th Congressional District. Two-term republican congressman Steve Russel was favored to win this race, but was defeated by Democrat Kendra Horn. Horn, former campaign manager for 2014 democratic governor nominee Joe Dorman, surprised all by winning this seat with only 4,300 votes separating the two out of over 238,000 votes being cast. Kendra Horn will be the first democratic woman elected to congress from Oklahoma.
Concerning local elections, republicans increased their lead in the State House of Representatives bringing the count to 76 republican representatives to the 25 democrats. In the State Senate, democrats only picked up one seat, bringing the count to 39 republican senators to the democrats 9. This lead gives republicans over 75% control in both chambers of the State Legislature.
Other election news from Oklahoma comes out of the proposed state questions. All but one question failed to receive a majority of voters support. The one question to pass, question 794, also known as “Marsy’s Law”, passed overwhelmingly with 78% of the vote. Controversial state questions 793 and 801 failed narrowly by only receiving 49% approval each.
On judicial retentions, all twelve judges and justices on the ballot, including four from the State Supreme Court, three from the Criminal Court of Appeals, and five from the Civil Court of Appeals, were retained.
On the national scene, the Democrats did take control of the US House of Representatives, as expected, but did not pick up enough seats in the Senate to take control. In close Senate races, republican incumbent senator Ted Cruz narrowly held on against democratic challenger Congressman Beto O’Rourke. In Florida, democratic incumbent senator Bill Nelson was ousted by outgoing republican governor Rick Scott. Tough gubernatorial races in Georgia and Florida were also taken by the republicans, despite close polling and campaign visits by Former President Barack Obama.