Legislators seek reelection
The Oklahoma Legislature gathers for regular session every year on the first Monday in February. (Michael Duncan)

Nearly one-third of Oklahoma’s legislative seats will be determined by Tuesday’s general election.

Thirty incumbents — 27 members in the House of Representatives and three in the Senate — are vying for reelection. Fourteen other legislative seats will be filled by new faces after their incumbents either chose not to seek another term, were prohibited from filing owing to the state’s 12-year term limit or lost in primary or runoff elections earlier this year.

With Republicans holding supermajorities in the Oklahoma House and Senate, most of the legislative seats to be decided Tuesday are currently GOP seats. In the House, 20 of the 27 incumbents are Republicans, and four of the five open seats to be decided are currently held by Republicans. Two of the three incumbents in the Senate seeking reelection are Republicans, and eight of the nine open seats are now occupied by Republicans.

Nearly half of the 101 members in the House did not have to seek reelection because they drew no opponents. After the three-day candidate filing period in April, 44 House members seeking reelection automatically secured their seat. In the 48-member Senate — where the body’s next leader remains somewhat uncertain owing to a rift in the GOP Caucus — six members were unopposed.

Eight Senate seats and 25 House seats were decided earlier this year in either the June 18 primary or the Aug. 27 runoff.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for Oklahoma’s Election Day, which also features a statewide Corporation Commission election and retention decisions for Supreme Court justices, Court of Criminal Appeals judges and Court of Civil Appeals judges.

The following article offers an overview of all races for the Oklahoma Legislature, including one that has drawn controversy for a candidate’s termination by a state agency.

Agency terminated HD 83 candidate after sexual harassment inquiry

HD 83
From left: Rep. Eric Roberts (R-OKC) is being challenged by Democrat Jimmy Lawson for the Oklahoma House District 83 seat on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (NonDoc)

In the House District 83 race in Oklahoma City, Democrat Jimmy Lawson is challenging Rep. Eric Roberts (R-OKC) for a seat that Roberts won after ousting a Democrat in 2020.

On April 18, two weeks after filing for the post, Lawson announced on Facebook that he was “fully suspending” his campaign because of “personal family health issues” that made him “not able to continue.” Lawson, who finished last in a four-candidate race for OKC mayor in 2022 and later that year contemplated running for the 5th Congressional District, resumed his legislative campaign over the summer.

As far back as April, however, questions had been raised about why Lawson, a Rose State College professor who teaches finance and economics courses, was terminated last year from the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission, where he worked as a permitting services director.

The commission voted Jan. 18, 2023, to terminate Lawson after finding “it was more likely than not” that his actions nine days prior had constituted sexual harassment toward a 17-year-old employee who had been placed at the commission through the corporate work study program of Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School.

“After investigation that included witness corroboration, surveillance video images of the complainant’s allegations, and an opportunity for Mr. Lawson to respond to allegations, the commission determined it is more likely than not that James Lawson’s actions on Jan. 9, 2023, toward a 17-year-old employee who was placed at the WCC in the corporate work study program of Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School constituted sexual harassment of another as defined and prohibited by the WCC’s Harassment Free Workplace Policy WCC-9,” the termination notice to Lawson stated.

Asked recently about the commission’s action, Lawson replied, “I have no comment in regards to that, sir.”

Asked if HD 83 voters had a right to know what happened, Lawson requested time to gather his thoughts.

“Give me one second, sir,” Lawson said. “Can you hold that one thought? We’re going to call you right back.”

He did not.

Since resuming his campaign over the summer, Lawson picked up the endorsement of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition, which describes itself as “a true grassroots, parent-led effort to support rural Oklahoma classrooms.”

Roberts, who works in real estate and is a partner of Colonial Center LP, said he had heard about Lawson’s termination from the Workers’ Compensation Commission.

“But I didn’t really give it any credence because six months ago he’d sent me an email that said he had dropped out,” he said. “In the salutation line on that email, he said, ‘Congratulations on your November victory,’ so I took him at his word. But obviously that wasn’t true.”

Despite Lawson’s email, Roberts said he continued campaigning because about 1,000 new people have moved into HD 83 since 2022.

“So, we just kept knocking doors anyway,” Roberts said. “As far as the new allegations go, I just think the voters of District 83 need to ask themselves which candidate best represents their values.”

House seats on the ballot Tuesday

Legislators speak on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Michael Duncan)

In addition to Roberts and the House District 83 seat, there are 26 other House incumbents up for reelection Tuesday. By district, those are:

In addition, five open House seats are set to be decided Tuesday. By district, those are:

  • District 12 covers parts of Wagoner County. Republican Mark Chapman of Broken Arrow is facing Democrat Crystal LaGrone of Coweta for the seat held by Rep. Kevin McDugle (R-Broken Arrow), who withdrew after the filing period;
  • District 20 covers parts of Cleveland and McClain counties. Republican Jonathan Wilk of Goldsby is facing Democrat Mitchell Jacob of Newcastle for the seat held by Rep. Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle), who did not seek reelection;
  • District 88 covers parts of Oklahoma County. Democrat Ellen Pogemiller of Oklahoma City is facing independent Bobby McCollum of Oklahoma City for the seat held by Rep. Mauree Turner (D-OKC), who did not seek reelection;
  • District 90 covers parts of Cleveland and Oklahoma counties. Republican Emily Gise of Oklahoma City is facing Democrat Nana Dankwa of Oklahoma City for the seat held by Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols (R-OKC), who is term limited; and
  • District 98 covers parts of Tulsa and Wagoner counties. Republican Gabe Woolley of Broken Arrow is facing Democrat Cathy Smythe of Broken Arrow for the seat held by Rep. Dean Davis (R-Broken Arrow), who lost to Woolley in the Aug. 27 runoff.

Senate seats on the ballot Tuesday

2024 primary election night
Legislators speak on the floor of the Oklahoma State Senate on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Michael Duncan)

While Tuesday’s elections for the Oklahoma House are unlikely to affect the body’s broader balance of power, the State Senate constitutes a different animal. Uncertainty over the body’s next president pro tempore — or leader — has spurred contentious jockeying between factions within the Senate Republican Caucus.

On Tuesday, three Senate incumbents are on the ballot for reelection. By district, they are:

Meanwhile, nine open Senate seats are to be decided Tuesday. By district, they are:

  • District 3 covers parts of Cherokee, Mayes and Wagoner counties. Republican Dr. Julie McIntosh, of Porter is facing independent Margaret Cook of Tahlequah for the seat held by Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens (R-Tahlequah), who lost to McIntosh in the Aug. 27 runoff;
  • District 15 covers parts of Cleveland County. Republican Lisa Standridge of Norman is facing Democrat Elizabeth Foreman of Norman for the seat held by Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman), who is term limited;
  • District 21 covers parts of Payne and Creek counties. Republican Dr. Randy Grellner of Cushing is facing Democrat Robin Fuxa of Stillwater for the seat held by Sen. Tom Dugger (R-Stillwater), who did not seek reelection;
  • District 25 covers parts of Tulsa County. Republican Brian Guthrie of Bixby is facing Democrat Karen Gaddis of Tulsa for the seat held by Sen. Joe Newhouse (R-Tulsa), who did not seek reelection;
  • District 33 covers parts of Tulsa and Rogers counties. Republican Christi Gillespie of Broken Arrow is facing Democrat Bob Willis of Broken Arrow for the seat held by Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow), who is term limited;
  • District 37 covers parts of Tulsa and Creek counties. Republican Aaron Reinhardt of Jenks is facing independent Andrew Nutter of Tulsa for the seat held by Sen. Cody Rogers (R-Tulsa), who lost to Reinhardt in the June 18 primary;
  • District 43 covers parts of Stephens, Grady, Garvin and McClain counties. Republican Kendal Sacchieri of Blanchard is facing Democrat Sam Graefe of Purcell for the seat held by Sen. Jessica Garvin (R- Duncan), who lost to Sacchieri in the June 18 primary;
  • District 46 covers parts of Oklahoma County. Republican Charles Barton of Del City is facing Democrat Mark Mann of Oklahoma City and independent David Pilchman of Oklahoma City for the seat held by Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd (D-OKC), who is term limited; and
  • District 47 covers parts of Oklahoma County. Republican Kelly Hines of Edmond is facing Democrat Erin Brewer of Edmond for the seat held by President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-OKC), who is term limited.
  • Michael McNutt

    Michael McNutt became NonDoc's managing editor in January 2023. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, working at The Oklahoman for 30 years, heading up its Enid bureau and serving as night city editor, assistant news editor and State Capitol reporter. An inductee of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, he served as communications director for former Gov. Mary Fallin and then for the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Send tips and story ideas to mcnutt@nondoc.com.

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