Incumbents hold on in Cleveland County, Norman retains Dem reps

Last Updated on August 6, 2023, 2:52 AM | Published: November 9, 2022

NORMAN, Okla. — Cleveland County’s closest race in Tuesday’s election was in House District 45, where Democrat Annie Menz edged out Republican Teresa Sterling in an increasingly contested district east of Norman. 

Democrat Merleyn Bell currently serves the district but only won by 51.6% in 2020. Menz was able to pick up 53.5% of this year’s vote.

But most races were won by sizeable margins. 

Incumbents hold on

Republican incumbent Cindy Roe won house district 42 with nearly 80% of the vote, and in Oklahoma’s national race for Congressional District 4, Tom Cole retained 66% of votes cast. 

The 2022 midterm election results show a strong defense of Democratic house districts across the Norman area, with Democratic incumbent Jacob Rosecrants holding HD 46 and Democrat Jared Deck decisively winning HD 44 in downtown Norman. 

Cleveland County voted favorably toward incumbent candidates. All incumbents retained their seats and some gained voter share compared to previous years.

Republican Max Wolfley won House District 95 by 51.2% in 2020, and showed considerable gains retaining the seat by 53.9% in 2022. 

This wasn’t a year when Cleveland County flipped seats, but instead one where residents reaffirmed parties and candidates of past election years. 

In some districts, voter turnout was lower than in the past. State house districts 42, 45, and 46 all showed lower turnout than 2020, and HD 46 was even lower than in 2018’s midterm election. 

(HD 46’s turnout in 2022 was 16,066, a far cry from the 20,585 the precincts saw in 2020.)

2020 may have increased mail-in and early voting availability, but voters still prioritize presidential election years above others. 

Incumbent candidates are marked by (i).

Cleveland County Commissioner Races 

Cleveland County Commissioner Map

District 1 County Commissioner

Rod Cleveland, Republican (i)  58.60%

Matthew Peacock, Independent  41.40%

All votes have been counted. 

District 3 County Commissioner

Rusty Grissom, Republican Primary Winner 58.59%

Mona “Mo” Vaughn, Democrat 41.41%

All votes have been counted.

National House Race

U.S. House District 04

Tom Cole, Republican (i) 66.75%

Mary Brannon, Democrat 33.25%

All votes have been counted.

State House Races

House District Interactive Map 

House District 42

Cindy Roe, Republican (i) 79.32%

Steve Jarman, Democrat 20.68%

All votes have been counted. 

House District 44

Jared Deck, Democrat 71.30%

RJ Harris, Republican 28.70%

All votes have been counted. 

House District 45

Annie Menz, Democrat 53.52%

Teresa Sterling, Republican 46.48%

All votes have been counted. 

House District 46

Jacob Rosecrants, Democrat (i) 54.51%

Kendra Wesson, Republican 45.49%

All votes have been counted.

House District 90

Nana Dankwa, Democrat 36.05%

John Echols, Republican (i) 63.95%

All votes have been counted.

House District 95

Tegan Malone, Democrat 46.06%

Max Wolfley, Republican (i) 53.94%

All votes have been counted.

Cleveland County District Judge race

District Judge District 21, Office 1

Michael David Tupper 61.70%

Patrick Crowe 38.30%

All votes have been counted.
Coverage on Oklahoma County races can be found here, and Live election results for all Oklahoma Races can be found here.

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