OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — With the early primary election results in, Oklahoma County voters have selected their party’s candidates for several races for Congress and the Oklahoma Legislature in the June 18 primary election.
Winners were declared in several races where candidates from only one political party ran for the seat. Meanwhile, in other races, the candidates with the highest number of votes will advance to the August 27 runoff to determine a winner.
Congressional District 4
Republican Tom Cole and Democrat Mary Brannon will again compete in the November general election, as they did in 2020, after winning their respective races.
In the competitive Republican primary race for Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District, incumbent Cole won by a landslide, securing 64.6 percent of the vote according to the unofficial election results.
Paul Bondar, a political newcomer who has spent millions on his campaign against Cole,
trailed with 25.8 percent. Meanwhile, Andrew Hayes, Nick Hankins, and Rick Whitebear Harris each garnered less than 5 percent of the total votes.
In the Democratic primary race for Congressional District 4, Mary Brannon defeated Kody Macaulay by a 21.3-point margin, securing 60.6 percent to Macaulay’s 39.3 percent.
Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District is located in the south-central region of the state, encompassing 15 counties and including a small portion of Oklahoma County.
Congressional District 3
Longtime U.S. Representative Frank D. Lucas easily won the Republican Primary for Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District race, defeating challengers Robin Lynn Carder and Darren Hamilton.
Lucas secured 73 percent of the total votes. Hamilton and Carder finished with 13 percent to 14 percent, respectively.
Congressional District 3 is the largest congressional district in the state, encompassing almost half of the state’s land area. It spans 32 counties, spreading from the panhandle’s western edge to Tulsa in the east and Altus in the south.
CD-3 once again includes Oklahoma City’s Southside after the last redistricting, which split the OKC metro between Lucas and Rep. Stephanie Bice, Congressional District 5.
Lucas is automatically reelected for his 13th term since he faces no opposition from the Democratic or Libertarian parties.
Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner
In the Republican primary race for Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, Brian Bingman won 53.4 percent of the vote. Justin Hornback followed with 28.6 percent, and Russell Ray received 17.9 percent.
Bingman, the candidate favored by several notable Republican leaders, will face Democrat Harold Sprandling and Libertarian Chad Williams in the general election.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission consists of three statewide elected members who serve as a regulatory body, tasked with overseeing the state’s fuel, oil, gas, and public utilities industries. To most Oklahomans, the time the Commission is in the news the most is when they regulate customer utility rates.
Commissioners’ terms are staggered, resulting in a vacancy every two years. In-term vacancies are filled by government appointment, with the appointed commissioner serving until the next regular session.
The next elected Corporation Commissioner will succeed Bob Anthony, who has served 34 years since his initial election in 1988.
Oklahoma Senate
Senate District 17
Incumbent Shane Jett claimed the victory in the four-way Republican primary race for Senate District 17.
According to unofficial test results, Jett received a little over half of the vote, 50.1 percent. Former District 17 Senator Ron Sharp followed second with 26.9 percent, while entrepreneur Rachel Melot received 19.3 percent and Cody Swearington received only 3.6 percent of the total votes.
Senate District 17 encompasses a large portion of Pottawatomie County, extending towards Harrah in eastern Oklahoma County.
Jett has represented the district since 2020, having previously served the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004 to 2010. With no other political party filing to run for the seat, Jett secured his second term. However, he will only serve two years due to term limits.
Senate District 46
In the democratic primary, Mark Mann won by nearly 6 points, or 165 votes, over his challenger, Sam Wargin Grimaldo.
Mann, an insurance agent and former OKCPS board member, secured 52.7 percent of the vote while OKC attorney Grimaldo followed closely with 47.2 percent.
Mann will compete against Republican Charles Barton and Independent David Pilchman for the open seat in the upcoming general election.
Senate District 47 extends from SW 89th Street, reaching Del City, and continues north towards NW 23rd Street.
Senate District 47
In the GOP primary race for Senate District 47, Kelly E. Hines and Jenny Schmitt will advance to a runoff in August, as no candidate received a majority of the vote
Hines, a seasoned Army veteran, finished the race with 37.5 percent of the vote, while Schmitt and Aaron Curry finished closely, with 31.1 percent and 31.3 percent, separated by only 11 votes.
Senate District 48 (Unexpired term)
In the hotly contested special election for Senate District 48, Oklahoma City Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice easily defeated former Senator Connie Johnson with 72.7 percent of the vote, leaving Johnson far behind with 27.3 percent.
With no other party in the race, Nice will replace Sen. George Young to represent the northeast OKC district, serving the remainder of Young’s term following his resignation.
Oklahoma House of Representatives
House District 41
Incumbent Denise Crosswhite Hader won the Republican primary with 57. 5 percent while her opponent Shea Bracken garnered 42.4 percent of the total votes.
Hader, who has represented the House District 41 since 2018, will face off against Democrat Mike Bockus in November.
House District 88
In the Democratic race for the open seat left by Rep. Mauree Turner, Ellen Pogemiller emerged victorious over her two opponents, Nicole Maldonado, and Paula Sophia.
Pogemiller collected 53.5 percent of the vote, with Latina community organizer Maldonado coming in second with 30.7 percent. Sophia, an Army veteran, and former OKC police officer, trailed behind with 15.6 percent.
Pogemiller will advance to the November general election to face Independent Bobby McCollum to determine who will represent the progressive district in central OKC.
House District 90
Emily Gise received the highest number of votes in the GOP primary race, securing the Republican nomination with 53.6 percent of the total votes. Matt Echols, supported by current House District 90 representative Jon Echols, followed close behind with 46.3, losing by a margin of just over a hundred votes.
Gise, a self-described conservative advocate, will compete against Democrat Nana Abram Dankwa for the seat in November.
House District 95
Incumbent Max Wolfely secured a landslide victory with 82.3 percent of the total votes, while his opponent Alexander Yoder only received 17.6 percent.
Wolfley, a longtime former public school teacher, will vy against Democrat Tegan Malone for the seat in the general election.
House District 99
In the Democratic primary race for House District 99, incumbent Ajay Pittman secured her fourth term after beating her only other challenger Brittane’ Grant.
Pittman, who received endorsements from Mayor David Holt and Minority leader Cyndi Munson, led the race with 53.5 percent while Grant followed close behind with 46.4 percent.
Pittman will continue to represent the district encompassing northeastern and eastern parts of OKC.
House District 100
Incumbent Marilyn Stark easily won the Republican nomination for House District 100, collecting 70.6 percent of the vote while her opponent Johnny Hargis garnered 29.3 percent.
Chaunte Gilmore secured the Democratic nomination in the Democratic primary, securing 70.5 percent of the vote over her Democratic opponent Cyndi Parrish, who followed with 29.4.
Stark and Gilmore will face each other in November to determine who will represent the northwest OKC district.
House District 101
In the Republican primary race for House District 101, incumbent Robert Manger secured 52.2 percent of the vote, while his opponent Jonathon Hewitt came close with 47.8 percent, trailing by just over a hundred votes.
Manger will continue to represent the southeast OKC district since no other party entered the race.
Election results are still subject to changes and are not considered final until they’re certified by the appropriate election board. State and federal election results will be certified no earlier than 5 p.m. Friday, June 21, according to the State 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.