Wed, 09 Nov 2022 04:13:55 CST
Oklahoma remaned solidly red when it came to statewide races and in our US House races on Tuesday- and Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Vice President of Public Policy Steve Thompson tells senior farm and ranch braodcaster Ron Hays that "Oklahoma is very much a red state- I'd put us up against any red state in the country- and most certainly rural Oklahoma has spoke loud and clear with that" and adds that "the Governor did very well- and that was the story of the night- the top of the ticket."
Thompson says one of the factors that resonated with Farm Bureau members and others across rural Oklahoma was several of the appointees that have been working for the Governor- including Oklahoma State Secretary of Ag- Blayne Arthur.
Hays and Thompson offer an analysis of Election Day in Oklahoma- and you can hear their conversation by clicking on the LINK at the bottom of the story.
After a hotly contested campaign- Governor Kevin Stitt was reelected- defeating State School Superintendent Joy Hofmeister by a 55% to 42% margin. Stitt told supporters Tuesday night “Today, dark money lost, and the people of Oklahoma won,” Stitt said in his victory speech.
Non-Doc in their report on the Stitt victory says that the Governor gave credit for his win to a higher power – "When Stitt took the stage to a rowdy room of supporters at a hotel in northwest Oklahoma City, he attributed his victory to divine intervention.
“First off, let’s all give God all the praise and the glory. This really defied all natural reasoning. It really did,” Stitt said. “This is proof that God has his hand on a very bright future for the great state of Oklahoma.”
In other statewide elections, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell cruised to reelection over Democrat Melinda L. Alizadeh-Fard and Libertarian Chris Powell, whose limited campaign focused on arguing that Oklahoma does not need a lieutenant governor.
Besides the Governor's race- the State Superintendent of Public Education race was expected to be tighter than it turned out- as Republican candidate and Secretary of Education Ryan Walters will be Oklahoma’s next State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Walters won almost 57 percent of the vote, beating his Democratic opponent, Jena Nelson, who garnered just 43 percent.
In the race for attorney general, Republican Gentner Drummond, who narrowly defeated current Attorney General John O’Connor in the June primary, cruised to victory over Libertarian Lydia Steele.
Rep. Todd Russ (R-Cordell) was elected state treasurer over Democrat Charles De Coune and Libertarian Gregory Sadler.
Republican Commissioner of Labor Leslie Osborn won reelection against Democrat Jack Henderson and Libertarian Will Daugherty.
Sen. Kim David won an open seat on the Corporation Commission against Democrat Margaret Warigia Bowman and independent Don Underwood.
Listen to Steve Thompson and Ron Hays as they discuss these state races, this election cycle for the State Legislature as well as Oklahoma's Congressional delegation- click on the LINK below to listen.
(Picture above from Non-Doc- as Governor Kevin Stitt waves to supporters as he declares victory at his watch party in Oklahoma City)
Ron Hays talks with OkFB's Steve Thompson about the 2022 General Election Results
click to play audio or right-click to download
