Two incumbent senators seek renomination, three open seats are on the ballot and one runoff will effectively determine the district’s next senator.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Republicans will settle six state Senate runoff elections Aug. 25, with the ballot featuring two incumbent senators seeking another term, three open seats and one district where the Republican nominee will effectively be elected because no Democratic or independent candidate qualified for the November ballot.
The races span much of the state, from the Oklahoma City suburbs to southwestern Oklahoma and the Tulsa area, and include a special election to complete an unexpired Senate term.
Two incumbents seek another term
Two sitting Republican senators failed to win outright majorities in June and now face runoff elections.
In Senate District 18, Sen. Jack Stewart of Yukon will face Tyler Herring after neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the three-candidate Republican primary. Democrat Meredith McGinnis has already secured her party’s nomination and will face the Republican winner in November.
In Senate District 34, Sen. Dana Prieto of Tulsa will meet Aaron Forst after advancing from a competitive four-candidate Republican primary. Democrat Amy Hossain awaits the Republican nominee in the general election.
The two races will determine whether Stewart and Prieto return to the Senate for another term.
Open seats dominate the ballot
Three of the six runoff contests are for seats without an incumbent.
In Senate District 17, Republicans are choosing a successor to Sen. Shane Jett, the Shawnee Republican who cannot seek another legislative term after reaching Oklahoma’s 12-year lifetime legislative term limit. Justin Freeland Wood and Abby Thompson advanced from the special Republican primary and will meet in the Aug. 25 special runoff. Democrat Ed Bolt awaits the winner in November.
In Senate District 24, Republicans Jon Painter and Robert Keyes are competing for the seat formerly held by Darrell Weaver. Earlier this year, Weaver unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor before the Cleveland County Board of County Commissioners appointed him sheriff, prompting his resignation from the Senate. The Republican nominee will face Democrat Jonathan Morales and independent Melissa Elder in November.
Western Oklahoma’s Senate District 26 is the only runoff that will effectively determine a Senate seat this summer. Republicans Rick Koch and Jessica Winegeart advanced to the runoff, and no Democrat or independent filed for the district. Because no other candidates qualified for the general election, the Aug. 25 runoff winner will be elected to represent Senate District 26.
A new senator is guaranteed in District 32
Regardless of who wins in August or November, Senate District 32 will send a new senator to the Capitol next year.
The June primary eliminated incumbent Sen. Dusty Deevers from the race, leaving Jean Hausheer and Curtis Erwin to compete for the Republican nomination. The runoff winner will advance to face Democrat Booker T. Newton and independent Valentin Peña in a three-way general election.
Deevers’ primary defeat guarantees Senate District 32 will be represented by a new senator next year, regardless of who wins the runoff or the November election.
Senate District 26 is the only runoff that will effectively be settled Aug. 25. In the other five districts, voters will choose Republican nominees who will advance to November, including two races that feature independent candidates alongside the Republican and Democratic nominees.
Early voting is scheduled for Aug. 20 and 21. Election Day is Aug. 25.
