Republican incumbent Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III weathered an avalanche of dark money spending against him to defeat Democrat Wayland Cubit in a rematch of their 2020 race Tuesday night.
Johnson defeated Cubit with 58 percent of the vote. Cubit finished with 42 percent. Results are unofficial until certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board.
The race was a rematch of their 2020 showdown, which Johnson won with 52.8 percent support. This year, his margin over Cubit more than doubled.
The candidates traded barbs throughout the race. Johnson sent out mailers and ran TV ads assailing Cubit for past financial problems, including garnishment of his wages and repossession of a vehicle more than 20 years ago. Cubit countered by questioning Johnson’s ability to keep the Oklahoma County Courthouse safe and by criticizing his opponent for wasting money on renovating his offices.
Blue Horizon PAC, a political action group aligned with Democrats, spent more than $630,000 to defeat Johnson in recent weeks, mostly through TV ads and direct mail, according to a recent story in The Oklahoman. Cubit is a former Oklahoma City Police Department lieutenant who now leads security efforts for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
During his campaign, Johnson highlighted his office’s ongoing work in mental health interactions and body cameras since his election in 2020.
“We have about 96 percent of our deputies who have been certified for crisis intervention,” Johnson said before the election. “When I started, that was usually reserved for people who were interested in that space.”
Oklahoma County legislative seats decided
Despite rumblings that some Oklahoma County seats in the Oklahoma Legislature could see incumbents ousted or at least the controlling party flip, Tuesday’s electoral results were steeped in stability. Even an open State Senate seat in northwest Oklahoma City and west Edmond that was viewed as a possible pick up for Democrats remained firmly in Republican hands.
The following summaries offer details about legislative results in Oklahoma County.
Senate District 47: Kelly Hines tops Erin Brewer
In that northwest OKC and west Edmond race, Republican Kelly Hines edged Democrat Erin Brewer in Senate District 47. Hines finished with 52.94 percent to 47 percent for Brewer, with 39,222 votes cast. The seat had been held by President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-OKC) who was term-limited.
Hines, who emerged from a three-candidate Republican primary in June and defeated Jenny Schmitt in the August primary runoff, called SD 47 a “cross-section” of various aspects of the Republican Party. He campaigned in large part on being able to unite different factions and interests within the GOP, which he said currently faces a “schism.”
Senate District 46: Mark Mann keeps seat Democratic
Oklahoma City Democrat Mark Mann (60.4 percent) defeated Republican Charles Barton (34.3 percent) and Independent David Pilchman (5.3 percent). A former Oklahoma City Public Schools Board member, Mann will step into the seat held by Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd (D-OKC), who was term-limited.
House District 39: Harris easily holds Edmond seat
Incumbent Republican Rep. Erick Harris (R-Edmond) routed independent Richard Prawdzienski, 75.87 percent to 24.13 percent. Harris had won the seat in a February special election against Prawdzienski and Democrat Regan Raff. No Democrat filed for the seat’s full term two months later.
House District 83: Roberts returns to House
Incumbent Rep. Eric Roberts (R-OKC) is heading back to the House after defeating Democrat Jimmy Lawson with 55.43 percent of the vote. Lawson finished with 44.57 percent. With his initial win in 2020, Roberts flipped the seat to the GOP. Lawson’s campaign for public office resulted in the revelation that he had been fired from state employment in 2023 for an allegation of sexual harassment against a 17-year-old girl.
House District 84: Tammy West cruises past Lamb
In the Bethany area’s House District 84, GOP Majority Leader Rep. Tammy West (R-OKC) beat Democrat Jeremy Lamb for the second election cycle in a row. West finished with 58.14 percent compared to 41.82 for Lamb.
House District 85: Munson crushes Hooten
Incumbent Democrat and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson easily defeated former Republican Oklahoma County Clerk David Hooten in District 85. First elected in 2015, Munson (D-OKC) received 60.92 percent of the vote to 39.08 percent for Hooten, who resigned from public office in 2022 amid allegations of workplace and sexual misconduct.
House District 87: Hefner retains seat
Rep. Ellyn Hefner (D-OKC) beat Republican challenger Dave Schnittger of Oklahoma City on Tuesday night with 61.5 percent of the vote. Schnittger received 38.5 percent.
House District 88: Pogemiller tops independent
Democrat Ellen Pogemiller beat Independent Bobby McCollum with 76.89 percent to 23.11 for McCollum. The seat had been held by Rep. Mauree Turner (D-OKC) who opted against running for reelection.
House District 90: Gise defeats Dankwa
Running in her first election, Republican Emily Gise defeated Democrat Nana Dankwa. The seat had been held by longtime GOP Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols (R-OKC) who was term-limited. Gise finished with 66.26 percent support to 33.74 percent for Dankwa. District 90 covers parts of Cleveland and Oklahoma counties.
House District 94: Fugate rolls to another term
Incumbent Rep. Andy Fugate (D-Del City) easily won reelection to another term representing House District 94. Fuguate won with 60.57 percent of the vote, with Republican Suzanne Jobe picking up 39.43 percent.
House District 95: Wolfley defeats Malone
Incumbent Rep. Max Wolfley (R-OKC) held off a challenge from Democrat Tegan Malone on his way to earning another term in the House. Wolfley won 54 percent of the vote while Malone picked up 46 percent.
House District 100: Stark hangs on to seat
Incumbent Rep. Marilyn Stark (R-Bethany) narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Chaunte Gilmore with 50.94 percent of the vote compared to Gilmore’s 49.06 percent. Fewer than 300 votes separated the two candidates in House District 100, which was viewed as perhaps the most likely Democratic pickup among the Oklahoma House races on Tuesday’s ballot.
