The Freedom Call

Oklahoma runoff takeaways:

Stephanie Bice wins, incumbents fall
Sep
03

2020 By Trevor Brown this month, has Horn winning over Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove;
The lineup for November’s independents by a 65% to 31% Rep. Lundy Kiger, R-Poteau; Rep.
general election is set. margin in a contest against Bice. Derrel Fincher, R-Bartlesville;
Page Tuesday’s But Republicans put out and Rep. Jason Dunnington,
0003 UXQR൵ HOHFWLRQ optimistic messages as well. Neese D-Oklahoma City, were all defeated
Clip ¿QDOL]HG called for party unity in her post- in June’s primary election.
resized Oklahoma’s election speech while Bice began This year still hasn’t been as
67% KLJKSUR¿OH to pivot towards November. tough on incumbents as 2018
congressional “Oklahomans wanted a following the teacher walkout, when
¿IWK GLVWULFW candidate that could defeat Kendra 12 incumbents, all Republicans,
race. Horn in November, and I’m ready were replaced.
Meanwhile, to take her on in November,” she Bynum Wins Re-Election in
several said in a statement following her Tulsa
incumbent Republicans lost win. Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum
key seats in the Legislature and The Cook Political Report ZDV DPRQJ WKH IHZ KLJKSUR¿OH
elsewhere, potentially setting up currently rates the race as a “toss incumbents to escape the Tuesday
tight races this fall. up.” unscathed.
As the dust settles on More Incumbent Lawmakers Go Anger over policing issues and
Oklahoma’s latest election, here is Down Bynum’s decision to allow Tulsa
a look at how Tuesday will impact It was another bad night to to host President Donald Trump’s
the general election. be a sitting lawmaker in a tough rally in June despite COVID-19
Experts Predict Tight Horn vs. LQWUDSDUW\¿JKW concerns prompted many to
Bice Contest All three GOP legislative question Bynum’s political future.
The biggest win of the night, incumbents who were on the ballot But not only did he survive
at least in terms of statewide and Tuesday were defeated by their Tuesday, he managed to top 50%
national interest, went to state Sen. Republican challengers. of the vote in the eight-person
Stephanie Bice in Oklahoma’s Jessica Garvin, an assisted living ¿HOG DQG ZRQ KLV UHHOHFWLRQ ELG
FORVHO\ ZDWFKHG ¿IWK GLVWULFW administrator, beat Sen. Paul Scott, ZLWKRXWQHHGLQJWRIDFHDUXQR൵LQ
congressional contest. R-Duncan, in the Senate District November.
Bice won nearly 53% of the vote 43 race. Two-term incumbent &RPPXQLW\ RUJDQL]HU *UHJ
as she defeated businesswoman Larry Boggs, R-Wilburton, lost to Robinson, who hoped to be Tulsa’s
Terry Neese and secured the GOP’s rancher Warren Hamilton in the ¿UVW EODFN PD\RU FDPH LQ VHFRQG
nomination. Senate District 7 race. And former with 28.8% of the vote. No other
Bice, who was largely seen as Oklahoma House member, Shane candidate topped 15%.
the more moderate Republican in Jett, defeated Sen. Ron Sharp, 2NODKRPD&RXQW\6KHUL൵
the race, will go on to face freshman R-Shawnee, in the Senate District Defeated
Kendra Horn, D-Oklahoma, in a 17 race. Oklahoma County will have a
race that both parties are eyeing for State Sen. Ron Sharp, QHZVKHUL൵QH[W\HDU
a victory this November. R-Shawnee, defeated in 1RUPDQ SROLFH R൶FHU 7RPPLH
Horn surprised many political 7XHVGD\¶V UXQR൵ HOHFWLRQ KDV Johnson III easily beat incumbent
watchers in 2018 when she upset been a vocal critic of Epic Charter 6KHUL൵ 3' 7D\ORU DV -RKQVRQ
two-term congressman Steve Schools, which has grown to secured more 60% of the vote in the
Russell and ended more than 30 become one of the state’s largest two-person GOP primary.
years of Republican control over school districts (Whitney Bryen/ 7D\ORU VHUYHG LQ WKH VKHUL൵¶V
the district, which covers almost all Oklahoma Watch) R൶FHDVXQGHUVHFUHWDU\IRU\HDUV
of Oklahoma County in addition to Sharp was among the most vocal EHIRUH KH ZDV HOHFWHG VKHUL൵ LQ
the more rural Pottawatomie and critics of Epic Charter Schools and 2017. He received FOI Oklahoma’s
Seminole counties. recently was awarded thousands Black Hole recognition in 2018 for
One of the big questions for this of dollars in legal fees following a refusing to release records related
fall is whether Horn will again win ¿JKWZLWKWKHFKDUWHUVFKRRO to inmates at the Oklahoma County
largely from metro Oklahoma City In a letter sent out to parents jail.
areas that have increasingly turned days before the election, Epic called Johnson’s victory foreshadows
more moderate or Democratic over Sharp “dishonest and relentless” a historic election in November
the years. while denying any attempt to as two black candidates, Johnson,
Democrats believe the answer obstruct his campaign. and Democrat Wayland Cubit will
to that is yes. The Democratic Sharp, however, has claimed compete to see who becomes the
Congressional Campaign Epic had done just that. And, FRXQW\¶V¿UVWEODFNVKHUL൵
Committee released a poll according to a report from KFOR, 2NODKRPD:DWFKLVDQRQSUR¿W
shortly after Bice’s win showing KHSODQVRQ¿OLQJDQHWKLFVYLRODWLRQ organization that produces in-
the newly minted Republican against the charter school. depth and investigative journalism
QRPLQHHLVD¿YHSHUFHQWDJHSRLQW The three defeated incumbents on important public-policy issues
underdog. The poll, conducted by now join four other sitting facing the state. The organization’s
GQR Research on behalf of that lawmakers in losing election bids website is at www.oklahomawatch.
Democratic campaign group earlier this summer. org.

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