Three Republican Oklahoma state lawmakers are gearing up for runoff elections on Tuesday in 10 state legislative districts after falling short of winning an outright majority in the June 18 primary.
In Senate District 3, state Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens faces a challenge from physician Julie McIntosh for a second term. McIntosh is supported by Gov. Kevin Stitt and others while Stephens has the endorsement of state Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Stephens narrowly defeated McIntosh in the primary with a slight margin.
State Rep. Kevin Wallace in House District 32 is facing a tough reelection battle against energy executive Jim Shaw. Wallace, despite being endorsed by the governor, came in second in the primary against Shaw. The winner of this runoff will run unopposed in November.
In House District 98, State Rep. Dean Davis seeks another term but first must overcome a primary challenge from teacher and advocate Gabe Woolley. Davis faced censure by the House in the past. He narrowly won in the primary against Woolley and another candidate.
State Senate District 15 has Lisa Standridge competing to succeed her husband, GOP state Sen. Rob Standridge. Standridge led the primary and will face Robert Keyes in the runoff.
With half of Oklahoma’s state Senate seats and all 101 House seats up for election in 2024, and many races being uncontested or lacking Democratic candidates, Republicans hold dominating majorities in both chambers.
Only registered Republicans can vote in the primary runoffs, and independent or Democratic voters are not allowed to participate. The runoff elections are anticipated to have lower turnout compared to the primary elections. The AP will declare winners in 10 contests for Republican primary runoff elections in Oklahoma on Tuesday.
The Associated Press does not make projections and only announces winners when trailing candidates have no chance of catching up. If a race is too close to call, the AP continues to provide coverage until a winner is determined. Candidates can request and pay for a recount regardless of the margin, and the costs are refunded if the recount alters the outcome.
As of August 1, Oklahoma had nearly 2.4 million registered voters, with a majority being Republicans. The turnout in the June 18 primary was approximately 20% of registered Republicans. Pre-election day voting varied across the contested districts, with the highest being 16% in one district and the lowest at 7%.
In the June 18 primary, the AP reported results promptly after polls closed, with the full tabulation completed within a few hours. The road to the November general election, which is 70 days away, continues with ongoing coverage of the 2024 election by the Associated Press.
