GOP Tidal Wave Sweeps Oklahoma

In the most remarkable election in Oklahoma's 103-year history, Republicans swept every statewide office and enlarged control of the State House and Senate in Tuesday's voting.

The only Democrat on the statewide ballot who came close to winning was incumbent Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, who was defeated by John Doak 54-46 percent.


Auditor & Inspector-elect Gary Jones

 She was one of three Democratic incumbents defeated; Auditor & Inspector Steve Burrage was ousted by former GOP State Chairman Gary Jones, the winner in his third race for the office. Remarkably, Jones was outspent by Burrage better than 7-to-1. Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields was humilated by Republican Mark Costello, losing by almost 300,000 votes.

The GOP sweep, fueled by frustration with the Obama Administration, was so deep that the state's most diehard Democratic area, Little Dixie in southeastern Oklahoma, saw Republican legislative candidates win their races with ease, topping veteran Democrats.


Congressman Dan Boren

 Ticket-splitting voters in the area, however, helped incumbent Democratic Congressman Dan Boren win another term in Congress. Swimming upstream against the GOP tidal wave, Boren won with about 56.5 percent of the vote. The district essentially is the eastern half of the state.

In the historic governor's race, Republican Mary Fallin becomes Oklahoma's first female chief executive. She defeated Democrat Jari Askins 60-40 percent.

Treasurer-elect Ken Miller

The GOP's top statewide vote-getter was Treasurer-elect Ken Miller of Edmond, who won more than 675,000 votes in defeating Stephen Covert.

Congressman-elect James Lankford

In the 5th congressional district, political newcomer James Lankford completed his magical journey with a 65.5 percent win over Democrat Billy Coyle and Independent Clark Duffe. Lankford raised more than $1.1 million in his race, which demonstrated the power of the social media; Lankford has more than 20,000 Facebook fans, for example.

Nationally, Republicans retook control of the House with a 60-seat pickup; they fell short of taking control of the Senate although they picked up six seats. Republicans drew on the support of independents and the energy of tea party activists to increase their strength and quickly served notice they intend to challenge President Barack Obama with a conservative approach to the economy.

The GOP sweep in Oklahoma elected six new GOP senators and eight new GOP House members, about double what had been expected.

Here are the final, unofficial results in the statewide races:

FOR GOVERNOR 2229 OF 2229
MARY FALLIN REP 625,433 60.45%
JARI ASKINS DEM 409,206 39.55%

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 2229 OF 2229
TODD LAMB REP 659,175 64.03%
KENNETH CORN DEM 334,663 32.51%
RICHARD PRAWDZIENSKI IND 35,652 3.46%

FOR STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR 2229 OF 2229
GARY JONES REP 570,104 55.94%
STEVE BURRAGE DEM 449,095 44.06%

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2229 OF 2229
SCOTT PRUITT REP 666,327 65.11%
JIM PRIEST DEM 357,114 34.89%

FOR STATE TREASURER 2229 OF 2229
KEN MILLER REP 675,438 66.57%
STEPHEN E COVERT DEM 339,224 33.43%

FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 2229 OF 2229
JANET BARRESI REP 573,652 55.92%
SUSAN PADDACK DEM 386,958 37.72%
RICHARD E. COOPER IND 65,228 6.36%

FOR COMMISSIONER OF LABOR 2229 OF 2229
MARK COSTELLO REP 649,672 64.17%
LLOYD L. FIELDS DEM 362,753 35.83%

FOR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER 2229 OF 2229
JOHN DOAK REP 555,677 54.48%
KIM HOLLAND DEM 464,247 45.52%

FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR 2229 OF 2229
TOM COBURN REP 718,404 70.64%
JIM ROGERS DEM 265,775 26.13%
STEPHEN P. WALLACE IND 25,042 2.46%
RONALD F. DWYER IND 7,805 .77%

FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 1 349 OF 349
JOHN SULLIVAN REP 151,155 76.81%
ANGELIA O'DELL IND 45,646 23.19%

FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 2 570 OF 570
CHARLES THOMPSON REP 83,215 43.48%
DAN BOREN DEM 108,184 56.52%

FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 3 571 OF 571
FRANK D. LUCAS REP 161,916 77.99%
FRANKIE ROBBINS DEM 45,684 22.01%

FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 5 328 OF 328
JAMES LANKFORD REP 123,223 62.53%
BILLY COYLE DEM 68,060 34.53%
CLARK DUFFE IND 3,066 1.56%
DAVE WHITE IND 2,728 1.38%

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