Oklahoma City, Tulsa Elections: Democrats Win 2 Legislative Seats

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Oklahoma Democrats unexpectedly won two state legislative seats from Republicans in special elections this week and now have their sights set on grabbing bigger prizes in 2018, including congressional seats and the governor's mansion.

The Democratic victories Tuesday night happened in districts in Oklahoma City and Tulsa with a mix of urban and suburban precincts, the kind of places where Democrats have made pickups in recent years. The larger cities have increasing populations of minorities and young professionals, who are more likely to vote Democratic. The Hispanic population in Oklahoma County, where Oklahoma City is located, grew 13.5 percent from 2010 and 2015.

Voters were frustrated over the state's budget problems and recent sex scandals that led Republican incumbents to resign, opening the door for Democratic candidates. (Click here to sign up for real-time news alerts for Oklahoma City. Click here for Tulsa. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"We've got a lot of energy right now," said Anna Langthorn, the Oklahoma Democratic Party's new 24-year-old leader. "I think it's a good sign for the remaining special elections and for 2018."

Last night's House District 75 and Senate District 44 clear victories prove that Oklahoma is not a "Republican"... https://t.co/H8eHpwl5Z0
— OK Democratic Party (@OkDemocrats) July 12, 2017

State Rep. Dan Kirby of the Tulsa area stepped down after two former legislative assistants accused him of sexual harassment. In Oklahoma City, Sen. Ralph Shortey faces three felony charges alleging he solicited a 17-year-old boy for sex.

Republican candidate Joe Griffin, who lost by 10 points to Democratic attorney Michael Brooks in the Oklahoma City race, said that while the scandals "certainly didn't help," more voters were aggravated by the state's constant budget problems after tax cuts approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature. Declining revenue led to reductions in school budgets over the last three years.

"There's great concern over our education system, and year after year, the Legislature has failed to tackle these issues," Griffin said.

In the race for the Tulsa seat held by Republicans since the 1980s, Democrat Karen Gaddis, a retired schoolteacher, built her campaign around supporting education and criticizing Republicans for mismanagement of state government. She won the race despite a 2-to-1 GOP advantage in registration.

Another factor in both contests was minuscule turnout. Gaddis won her race by fewer than 100 votes, while Brooks edged Griffin by 331 votes out of 3,600 votes cast.

Republicans still hold a 3 to 1 advantage in legislative seats along with every statewide elected office, both U.S. Senate seats and all five U.S. House seats.

Democratic candidates for governor in 2018 already are hammering on the budget and education issues as term-limited Republican Mary Fallin leaves office, and Democrats believe the congressional seat held by Republican Rep. Steve Russell in Oklahoma City could be within reach.

In other conservative states, such as Texas, Democrats now dominate congressional elections in the big cities.

But Pat McFerron, a Republican strategist and pollster, said that while the demographics in big cities are changing, Democrats are still at a disadvantage.

"In 12 or 15 years from now, maybe," McFerron said of flipping Russell's seat. "But not now."

By Sean Murphy, Associated Press

Photos credit: Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press