Last Updated on November 9, 2022, 7:10 AM | Published: November 9, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — In Oklahoma County, the big win of this election cycle was Democrat Vicki Behenna’s decisive defeat of Republican Kevin Calvey.
Behenna won the race for Oklahoma County District Attorney over Calvey by nearly 9 points, finishing the hotly contested race with 54.4 percent of the vote, while Calvey followed with 45.6 percent.
She will succeed David Prater, who served as DA for 16 years.
Calvey was considered by some to have the upper hand because of his extensive political experience and track record of winning elections within the metro. He had a considerable following that he had earned over the years of campaigning for a seat in the Oklahoma Legislature and then for Oklahoma County commissioner.
But, Behenna’s extensive experience as a prosecutor set her apart from Calvey in the race for the county’s top law enforcement position.
She served as a federal prosecutor for more than 25 years in the U.S. Attorney’s office and spent the last nine years as a defense attorney. During her time as a federal prosecutor, Behenna was selected to work on the high-profile OKC bombing case in the prosecution team against Timothy McVeigh.
Official results not finalized
As Oklahoma continues to finalize the midterm election results, voters have decided on several major races that will impact the state’s future Tuesday night.
Oklahomans saw many statewide, congressional, legislative, and judicial offices on the line this election season.
Election results are not final until they are certified by the Oklahoma County Election Board Friday, Nov. 15. State and federal results will be certified no earlier than 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, according to the State Election Board. The winner may not be called on election night if a race is especially close.
There are some clear big wins as votes are being finalized:
Governor of Oklahoma
GOP Incumbent Kevin Stitt secured a second, four-year term defeating Democratic challenger Joy Hofmeister in the most competitive race of the night. According to the unofficial results, Stitt defeated Hofmeister by nearly 15 points, 55.5 percent to 41.8 percent.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Charter school proponent Ryan Walters is the clear winner with 56.8 percent over last year’s state Teacher of the Year Jena Nelson at 43.2 percent.
Walters business connections and public campaign comments puts him squarely in the camp of those who want to expand charter and private schools while reducing support for community-owned public schools.
Here are the unofficial election results, which will be updated over the next several days:
House and Senate – Okla County
- Senate District 30: Democrat Incumbent Julia Kirt wins against Lori Callahan, with 59.1 percent of the vote.
- Senate District 28: Republican Grant Green wins by a landslide against Karen Rackley, with 71.9 percent of the total vote.
- Senate District 22: Republican Kristen Thompson wins outright, with 60 percent of the vote.
- Senate District 40: Democrat Carri Hicks secures another term after beating Republican Mariam Daly, 56.8 percent to 43.1 percent
- House District 41: Republican Denise Crosswhite Hader wins, with 59.5 percent.
- House District 83: Republican Eric Roberts defeats Greg Clyde by nearly 5 points.
- House District 84: Republican Tammy West wins against Jeremy Lamb, with 57 percent of the vote.
- House District 85: Democrat Cyndi Munson finished with 59.8 percent over Donna Rice-Johnson’s 40.1 percent.
- House District 87: Democrat Ellyn Hefner leads her race against Republican Gloria Banister, with 60.4 percent of the vote.
- House District 88: Democrat Mauree Turner won against Republican Jed Green in a landslide victory, with 79.4 percent to 20.5 percent
- House District 90: Republican Jon Echols wins outright, with 60.6 percent of the vote.
- House District 95: Republican Wolfley beat Tegan Malone by nearly 3 points, 51 percent to 48.9 percent.
- House District 97: Democrat Jason Lowe easily beats Republican Lisa Janloo, with 72.4 percent of the vote.
- House District 100: Republican Marilyn Stark wins over Democrat Chaunté Gilmore, 54.3 percent to 45.6 percent.
Other Oklahoma County Races:
- District Judge: For District Judge, Kathryn Ruth Savage led with 65 percent of the vote, while her opponent James Siderias received 35 percent.
- Associate District Judge: Angela Singleton defeated Richard W. Kirby, 58.7 percent to 41.3 percent.
- County Treasurer: Republican Forrest Butch Freeman won against Brandon Kirkpatrick, with 55.26 percent of the vote.
- County Assessor: Republican Larry Stein beat Democrat Nick Singer, 55 percent to 45 percent.
- County Commissioner, District 3: Republican Myles Davidson defeats Democrat Cathy Cummings, 56 percent to 43.8 percent.
- County Commissioner, District 1: Democrat Incumbent Carrie Blumert wins reelection outright over Republican challenger Willard Linzy, with 64.8 percent to his 35.1 percent.
Congress
U.S. Senate
Republicans James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin claim the victory over both the U.S. Senate seats, according to a race called by the Associated Press. Incumbent Lankford has easily been reelected another term after receiving 64.4 percent of the vote, with his Democratic challenger Madison Horn receiving 32 percent.
Republican Markwayne Mullin secured the open seat for U.S. Senate, finishing the race with 62 percent of the vote. Mullin defeated his closest competitor Democrat Kendra Horn, by nearly 27 points.
U.S. House District 5
Incumbent Rep. Stephanie Bice secures her seat for Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district after defeating Democratic challenger Joshua Harris-Till by nearly 22 points. According to the results, Bice finished the race with 59 percent of the vote, while her opponent received 37.4 percent in the district.
The newly-drawn 5th congressional district, was redrawn by the Republican-led legislature to include rural areas and exclude close to half of Oklahoma City that was in the district. It still includes much of Oklahoma County. It also contains parts of Logan county and all of Lincoln, Pottawatomie, and Seminole counties.
Statewide races
- Lieutenant Governor: Incumbent Matt Pinell will serve a second term after easily defeating Democratic opponent Melinda L. Alizadeh-Fard, 65 percent to 30.9 percent.
- Attorney General: Republican Gentner F. Drummond won by a landslide with 73.8 percent to Lynda Steel’s 26.1 percent.
- State Treasurer: Republican Todd Russ defeated Democrat Charles De Coune, 65 percent to 30.6 percent.
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: Republican Incumbent Ryan Walters wins another term after defeating Democrat Jena Nelson, 56.7 percent to 43.2 percent.
- Corporation Commissioner: Republican Kim David beats Democrat Margaret Warigia Bowman, 64 percent to 30.8 percent.
- Commissioner of Labor: Republican Incumbent Leslie Kathryn Osborn wins another term in her race against Democrat Jack Henderson, with 66 percent to his 29.2 percent.
Judicial Retention
Supreme Court
- District 2, Dustin P. Rowe: Retained
- District 5, James R. Winchester: Retained
- District 6, Dana Kuehn: Retained
- District 8, Douglas L. Combs: Retained
Court of Civil Appeals
- Stacie L. Hixon: Retained
- Gregory C. Blackwell: Retained
- John F. Fischer: Retained
- Barbara Swinton: Retained
- Thomas E. Prince: Retained
Election results are subject to changes and are considered unofficial until they’re certified by the appropriate election board.
Brianna Garcia is a freelance journalist covering local politics and culture for Free Press. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma.
