For the first time in more than a decade, Oklahoma voters will have the opportunity to dramatically change the makeup of the state Senate.
Term limits, resignations and pushback from the GOP’s right wing have all come together this election cycle to force changes on the Senate, which is now controlled by a Republican supermajority. Currently, the GOP controls 40 seats in the Senate. Democrats hold eight.
While the Republican supermajority is expected to hold , more than a dozen new lawmakers will be sworn into office ahead of next year’s legislative session.
More: Oklahoma’s Republican Party is shifting to the right. Where does that leave moderates?
Twelve races will be decided in November’s general election, including:
District 3 : Incumbent Republican Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens was was defeated by fellow Republican Julie McIntosh in the primary election. McIntosh still faces independent candidate Margaret Cook in the general election.
District 7 : Incumbent Republican Sen. Warren Hamilton will face off against Democratic challenger Jerry Donathan in the race to represent the far southeastern part of Oklahoma.