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Oklahoma
Governor
OKLAHOMA |
Nov. 6,
2018 Governor |
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Plurality: 143,606 votes (12.10 percentage points).
OK
State Election Board
Notes: Oklahoma is a very Republican state; in 2016 Trump carried its seven electoral votes by a margin of 36.39 percentage points. Still there was an opening for Democrats. Term-limited Gov. Mary Fallin (R) was among the most unpopular governors in the nation in 2018; indeed the Morning Consult report of July 26, 2018 found her the least popular with an approval rating of 19-percent; critics described her as a "pawn of big oil" who was too cautious and had failed to diversify the state's economy (>). Education and health care are major issues that were discussed throughout the campaign. In April, Oklahoma teachers staged a nine-day strike (>). The state is one of 14 that has rejected federal funding to expand Medicaid. The June 26 Republican primary saw a crowded field of ten candidates; the top two were headed for a runoff on Aug. 28. Mick Cornett, who served four terms as Mayor of Oklahoma City, from March 2004-April 2018, finished first with 29.34%. He had established a national reputation, having served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2016-17. Finishing second with 24.41% was Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt, who ran as an outsider. He founded Gateway Mortgage in 2000 and built it up to a company with 1,200 employees. Falling just short of making the runoff was Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb at 23.86%. Two months later Stitt went on to win the runoff by 54.56% to 45.44%. Drew Edmondson won the June 26 Democratic primary by a margin of 61.38% to 38.62% over Connie Johnson. Edmondson served as Attorney General of Oklahoma from 1995-2001 and since then has worked as an attorney. He ran for governor in 2010 but lost in the primary to Jeri Askins; he also waged an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1992. Edmondson served as Muskogee County District Attorney from 1983-1992. He is a U.S. Navy veteran including service in Vietnam. The Libertarians went to a runoff. In the June 26 Chris Powell finished ahead of Rex Lawhorn by 48.90% to 32.43% of the 3,558 votes cast. Powell then won the Aug. 28 runoff by 59.07% to 40.93% of 926 votes cast. The two major party candidates met for a debate organized by The Oklahoman at Oklahoma City Museum of Art on Sept. 24 (1, 2); there was one statewide televised debate on KOCO 5 from Oklahoma City on Oct. 25 (>). The National Institute on Money in Politics reported the Stitt campaign raised contributions of at least $10.7 million, including $4.8 million in loans from the candidate, while the Edmondson campaign tallied contributions of at least $4.0 million (>). Campaign Managers: Kevin Stitt: Aamon Ross "he was a consultant to a variety of companies and industries and negotiated large scale national contracts. Additionally, Ross has owned several small businesses and lead [sic] numerous teams while working in medical device sales for over 14 years." Drew Edmondson: Mike Clingman Director of the Oklahoma Coalition for Workers Rights from Jan. 2015. Regional director at WCRI, Jan. 2014-Jan. 2015. Administrator of the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Court, Jan. 2011-Jan. 2014. Director of the Oklahoma office of State Finance, Dec. 2008-Jan. 2011. B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma. |
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