GOP makes gains in state House
Republicans made gains in the Oklahoma Legislature on Tuesday, further solidifying the party's stronghold on the statehouse.
In the House, Republicans gained five seats by picking off two Oklahoma City-area Democrats and sweeping the three remaining rural seats currently held by Democrats.
The victories will give Republicans control of 82 of the 101 House seats, with Democrats holding the remaining 19 seats.
House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, applauded the GOP's historic supermajority in the chamber. McCall was up for reelection, but ran unopposed.
"Oklahomans want growth, freedom and conservative government, and their election of the biggest Republican majority in state House history will deliver it," he said in a statement. "It was encouraging to make gains statewide, from picking up all rural seats for the first time in state history to adding representation in the Oklahoma City area."
Leader of the state Senate, Pro Tem Greg Treat, R- Oklahoma City, cruised to victory against Democrat Andrea Stone.
Republicans also maintained their hold on 39 seats in the state Senate. Democrats picked up one Senate seat, but lost another, keeping them at nine seats in the chamber.
Where Republicans won House seats
House District 4: Republicans have flipped one of the few remaining seats represented by a rural Democrat. Republican Bob Ed Culver defeated Rep. Matt Meredith, D-Tahlequah, by 1,398 votes with all precincts reporting.
House District 7: Republicans already picked up the seat where Rep. Ben Loring, D-Miami, declined to seek reelection. No Democrat filed to run for the seat, so Republican Steve Bashore will become the new representative from Miami.
House District 56: Republican Dick Lowe defeated Democrat Craig Parham for the Chickasha-area seat. The district is currently represented by Democrat David Perryman, who opted not to run again.
House District 83: Republican Eric Roberts defeated Democratic Rep. Chelsey Branham by 767 votes. Branham, who represents The Village and some surrounding areas, was first elected in 2018 after flipping the Republican district blue.
House District 95: Republican Max Wolfley defeated Democratic Rep. Kelly Albright in the Midwest City district.
House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echo ls, R-Oklahoma City, previously told The Oklahoman, districts that switch from blue to red gain a greater voice in most major decisions at the state Capitol. Legislative Republicans write the state budget, lead legislative committees and decide which bills get hearings.
"I think for these districts, it definitely helps the areas that switch from Democrat to Republican," Echols said. "The decisions are made, for the most part, inside the Republican caucus."
Democrats already had limited power at the Capitol, but Tuesday' selection results further watered down their influence in the House. Less than 20 years ago, Democrats controlled the Oklahoma Legislature, but the party's influence has been waning in the statehouse ever since.
Democratic shake-ups in the Senate
Senate District 35: Democrat Jo Anna Dosett won the hotly contested Tulsa Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Gary Stanislawski. Dossett, who is the sister of Sen. J.J. Dossett, defeated Republican Cheryl Baber by 638 votes.
Senate District 37: Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, lost her reelection bid to Republican Cody Rogers. Republicans had been gunning for the seat Ikley-Freeman won in a 2017 special election.
Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, thanked Ikley- Freeman for her service and congratulated Dossett on her decisive victory. As a longtime educator, Dossett will be a strong advocate for public education, she said.
"There is much work to be done to invest in our public schools, make healthcare affordable and accessible, and bring good-paying jobs to our state," Floyd said in a statement. "Oklahoma Senate Democrats stand ready to bring a balanced, common sense approach to the state Capitol.”
Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman David M cL a in partly attributed the party's gains up and down the ballot in Oklahoma to voter registration efforts that spur red Republicans to become a majority of the state's registered voters for the first time.