Oklahoma Election Results: Voter Frustration Could Help Democrats

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The polls opened Tuesday in Oklahoma and Democrats hope to ride a recent national wave of anti-Trump resentment to take two vacant seats in the state Senate and one in the state House — both of which have long been held by Republicans. While Democrats found success last week in New Jersey and Virginia, Oklahoma is a wholly different animal.

Oklahoma is among the most conservative states in the country with nearly twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas. But the special elections come amid increasing voter frustration over years of state budget shortfalls and recent scandals that led to the resignation of Republican incumbents.

Republicans hold every statewide elected office in Oklahoma and have a super majority in both the House and Senate. But Democrats have found particular success in special elections, even in strongly Republican districts.

"My personal theory is that during special elections, we have a better opportunity to connect with voters and talk to them about local issues," said Anna Langthorn, the new chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Polls will stay open until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Democrats already have won three GOP-held seats in special elections this year and they nearly won a fourth in a heavily Republican district in Seminole County.

Oklahoma Republican Party Chair Pam Pollard acknowledges the gains but suggests they have more to do with GOP apathy than a shift in ideology among the state's electorate.

"Republicans are much more laid back and take these seats for granted," Pollard said. "Democrats are finding themselves in the position that Republicans were in 15 or 20 years ago, they have a cause to fight for.

"They are motivated to try and take their state back."

The seats being contested in Tuesday's election include one in southern Oklahoma City held by former Republican state Sen. Kyle Loveless, who resigned in April and later pleaded guilty to embezzling campaign funds. The other seats up for grabs include a state House seat in Broken Arrow that had been held by Republican state Rep. David Brumbaugh, who died while in office, and a state Senate seat in suburban Tulsa where state Sen. Dan Newberry is stepping down to pursue a private-sector career opportunity.

By SEAN MURPHY, The Associated Press

Photos credit: J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press