Be it name recognition or a proven record, incumbents tend to have an edge on election day. 

A slate of challengers to incumbent Republican legislators bucked that trend last week, defeating Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens, Reps. Dean Davis and Kevin Wallace, who chairs the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee. 

The number of incumbents ousted in single-party primaries stands at six. Sens. Jessica Garvin, Cody Rogers and Greg McCortney, who was tapped to serve as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, were defeated in the June primary election. 

The challengers ran against incumbents from the right, tapping into discontent in the Republican base that their lawmakers are too entrenched in political circles and not governing as true conservatives.

Money flowed freely in several of the races. In the House District 32 contest, Wallace and his challenger Jim Shaw spent a combined $729,000 from June 4 to Aug. 12. That adds up to about $120 per registered Republican that cast a ballot in the race. 

Outside spending, much of it by groups who don’t disclose their donors, also flourished in several races. Independent expenditures totaled $925,109 from June 19 through Aug. 27, according to Oklahoma Ethics Commission filings. 

Focus now turns to the Nov. 5 general election. Just 43 of the 127 state House and Senate seats up for re-election will appear before voters. 

What election-related issues do you want Oklahoma Watch to cover over the next two months? Let me know at Kross@Oklahomawatch.org.

— Keaton Ross

Recommended Reading

• Tracing the source of dark money-fueled attack ads that helped topple the Oklahoma Senate’s next leader: Advance Right purchased a television ad claiming McCortney had a “liberal” voting record, donors tied to President Joe Biden and was in favor of “drag queen parades, defunding police threats,” and “helping illegals get a license.” [The Frontier]
• Latino legislative candidates reflect on primary losses, representation in Oklahoma statehouse: Two Latino candidates hoped to capitalize on heightened awareness and a sense of activism among Latinos over House Bill 4156, a bill criminalizing all unauthorized immigrants in the state. [KOSU]
• Oklahoma grocery tax elimination began Aug. 29: Standard groceries such as bread, raw meat and dairy products will be exempt from the state’s 4.5% sales tax. A two-year moratorium prevents municipalities and counties from raising their taxes on groceries for two years. [The Journal Record]

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