State auditor’s victory ends Treasurer Todd Russ’ bid for a second term and marks the first time since 1994 that an incumbent Oklahoma treasurer has lost a Republican primary.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Cindy Byrd defeated incumbent State Treasurer Todd Russ in Tuesday’s Republican primary, delivering one of Oklahoma’s rare statewide incumbent defeats and becoming the first challenger since 1994 to unseat a sitting Oklahoma treasurer in a GOP primary.
Byrd’s victory ended Russ’ bid for a second term and capped one of the election cycle’s more surprising statewide races.
The contest initially appeared headed toward an uneventful conclusion for Russ before Byrd, the term-limited state auditor and inspector, abandoned a bid for lieutenant governor and entered the treasurer’s race on the final day of candidate filing.
The campaign evolved into an increasingly sharp contest as the candidates traded criticism over their records and the management of the treasurer’s office.
The result marks the first time an incumbent Oklahoma state treasurer has lost a Republican primary since 1994, when Treasurer Claudette Henry was defeated in her bid for renomination.
Byrd, Oklahoma’s first female state auditor and inspector, advances to the November general election, where she will face Libertarian nominee Kiefer Perry.
