GOP Struggle For Senate Control An Uphill Fight

Republicans face an uphill fight as they try to take control of the State Senate for the first time in history this year, data obtained by The McCarville Report Online indicates. The data comes from voter identification work conducted in recent days in the Senate races Republicans view as key to taking control. The voter ID calls show that Democratic candidates have significant leads in three races, marginal leads in two races and are neck-and-neck with GOP candidates in two races.

The two tight races are in Senate District 12, where Brian Bingman and John Mark Young, the Democrat, are wrestling for control of the seat now held by term-limited Senator Ted Fisher, and in Senate District 24, where Republican Anthony Sykes is attempting to unseat Democrat incumbent Daisy Lawler.

The two races where Democrats appear to have marginal leads are in Senate District 2, where Republican Ami Shaffer faces Democrat Sean Barrage, and in Senate District 18, where Republican Mark Wofford is trying to defeat incumbent Senator Mary Easley. Both these races appear to be toss-ups at the moment.

The three races where Democrats appear to have huge leads are in Senate District 16, where Republican Ron Davis faces Democrat John Sparks for the seat being vacated by term-limited Senator Cal Hobson; Senate District 26, where Republican Todd Russ and Democrat Tom Ivester are the candidates; and in Senate District 32, where incumbent Democrat Randy Bass faces Republican Ed Petersen of Lawton. All of these races, except the District 32 race, have been on watch lists since the primaries ended.

Share |