Oklahoma is one step closer to ending the 2022 election cycle.
The June 28th Primary saw voters across the state vote on numerous state issues and offices. Most state officials were up for election here’s how the votes went down.
It didn’t take long for the incumbent U.S. Senator James Lankford to secure the Republican nomination for his expired Senate seat. Just about 30 minutes after the polls closed in fact before the Associated Press called the race. He earned well over 65% of the vote defeating challengers Jackson Lahmeyer and Joan Farr.
Lankford will face the winner of the Democratic runoff between Madison Horn, no relation to Kendra Horn, and Jason Bollinger. No one in the Democratic primary received more than 40% of the vote.
Current Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt took a step closer to re-election as he secured the Republican nomination fending off three challengers.
Joy Hofmeister will be set up against Stitt as the Democratic candidate for governor. Hofmeister is the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction. She defeated Connie Johnson.
For State Auditor and Inspector, a race with plenty of campaign fighting, incumbent Cindy Byrd fended off Steven McQuillen. Byrd won the early and absentee voting battle, and never turned back. Byrd has secured re-election as no other parties put candidates on the ballot.
The fierce, and controversial, Republican battle for State Superintendent of Public Instruction will head to a runoff. Ryan Walters, the current Oklahoma Secretary of Education, was a clear favorite heading into Tuesday’s primary. That held true as he received the most votes, but didn’t receive the needed 50% plus one vote he needed to secure the nomination.
Shawnee Public Schools Superintendent April Grace will face off with Walters in a runoff after defeating John Cox for second place.
The winner of the runoff will face Democratic nominee Jena Nelson in November’s general election.
Republicans Markwayne Mullin and TW Shannon will also head to a runoff for the unexpired U.S. Senate seat. Mullin received the most votes with over 40%. Shannon fended off Nathan Dahm and Jim Inhofe endorsed Luke Holland to head into the August runoff.
The winner of the runoff will face former Oklahoma District 5 U.S. Representative Kendra Horn in the general election.
The closest race of the night was the contested fight between Stitt appointed John O’Connor and Gentner Drummond. Drummond opened a large lead early, and slowly O’Connor chipped away. The race got within 6,000 votes with 98% of precincts reporting. As the final precincts filed into the election board, O’Connor issued a concession speech, all the while Drummond declared success.
Drummond ended up winning by just over 6,000 votes, four years after narrowly losing in the same race to Mike Hunter.
Republicans Todd Russ and Clark Jolley will head to a runoff for State Treasurer, after Russ ended with just 48.54% of the vote. David Hooten is the only candidate from the race to not head into the runoff.
Leslie Osborn and Sean Roberts will head to a runoff for Commissioner of Labor. Osborn held over 50% of the vote for most of the night before ending with 47.82% of the vote.
Kim David and Todd Thomsen will be on a runoff ballot in August for Corporation Commissioner after David finished with just 41.07% of the vote.
All runoff races will be on Aug. 23. The general election is slated for Nov. 8.