Oklahoma down ballot state executive elections, 2014

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Oklahoma Down Ballot State Executive Elections

Primary Date: June 24, 2014

General Election Date: November 4, 2014

Oklahoma State Executive Elections Top Ballot Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Attorney General Down Ballot Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Corporation Commissioner

Six down ballot state executive positions were up for election in the state of Oklahoma in 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Four out of the six down ballot races on the ballot in 2014 were unopposed. In the race for superintendent, incumbent Janet Barresi was defeated by Joy Hofmeister in the Republican primary. Hofmeister ran against John Cox (D) in the general election. The other contested race in 2014 featured incumbent Mark Costello (R) and challenger Mike Workman (D) running for labor commissioner. Of the two contested races, Joy Hofmeister and Mark Costello won in the general election.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Oklahoma, the Republican Party conducts a closed primary, in which only registered party members may participate. The Democratic Party holds a semi-closed primary, in which unaffiliated voters may participate.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Treasurer

Candidates

Ken Miller - Incumbent

Results

General election

Miller won re-election without opposition.

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $587,033 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Ken Miller	Oklahoma Treasurer		$587,033
Grand Total Raised			$587,033

Duties

The Oklahoma Treasurer has a number of constitutional and statutory duties:

• receive, deposit and disburse all state funds
• invest temporary surplus funds
• invest specific funds for other state agencies where authorized
• require banks to furnish collateral sufficient to secure deposits of state and other public funds
• paying of interest on the state's bonded debt and the redeeming of the debt at maturity
• maintain a safekeeping operation for securities owned by various state agencies and those securities pledged as collateral to other state agencies;
• process and distribute all State checks (known as warrants);
• administer the Business Link and Agricultural Link Programs; and
• administer the Unclaimed Property Program.

Auditor

Candidates

Gary Jones - Incumbent

Results

General election

Jones won re-election without opposition.

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $136,897 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Gary Jones	Oklahoma Auditor		$136,897
Grand Total Raised			$136,897

Duties

The mission of the Oklahoma state auditor is to "independently serve the citizens of Oklahoma by promoting accountability and fiscal integrity in state and local government." The specific duties of the auditor are outlined in the constitution:

• examine the state and all county treasurer's books, accounts and cash on hand or in bank at least twice a year
• publish a report once each year with the results of those examinations
• prescribe a uniform system of bookkeeping for the use of all treasurers

Superintendent

General election candidates

John Cox
Joy Hofmeister

Lost in runoff

Freda Deskin

Lost in primary

Janet Barresi - Incumbent
Brian S. Kelly
Jack Herron
Ivan Holmes

Withdrawn

Donna Anderson

Results

General election

Oklahoma Superintendent, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Joy Hofmeister	55.8%	457,053
	Democratic	John Cox	44.2%	361,878
Total Votes				818,931
Election results via Oklahoma State Election Board

Primary election

Republican primary

Oklahoma Superintendent, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Joy Hofmeister	57.6%	151,124
Brian S. Kelly	21.4%	56,060
Janet Barresi	21%	55,048
Total Votes		262,232
Election results via Oklahoma State Election Board.

Democratic primary

Oklahoma Superintendent, Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
John Cox	41%	68,889
Freda Deskin	38.2%	64,135
Jack Herron	13.3%	22,335
Ivan Holmes	7.4%	12,504
Total Votes		167,863
Election results via Oklahoma State Election Board.

Runoff election

Oklahoma Superintendent, Democratic Primary Runoff, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
John Cox	62.9%	60,370
Freda Deskin	37.1%	35,621
Total Votes		95,991
Election results via Oklahoma State Board of Elections.

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $4,389,011 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Janet Barresi	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$2,743,297
Joy Hofmeister	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$832,556
John Cox	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$396,867
Freda Deskin	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$361,400
Jack Herron	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$32,933
Ivan Holmes	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$21,958
Brian S. Kelly	Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction		$0
Grand Total Raised			$4,389,011

Duties

Under Oklahoma statutes, the superintendent of public instruction "is responsible for giving advice and making recommendations to the State Board of Education on all matters pertaining to the policies and administration of the State Department of Education and the public school system." These duties include, but are not limited to:

• the general administration, coordination, supervision, promotion, evaluation and improvement of educational programs
• interpreting and implementing the policies of the State Board of Education
• coordinating all divisions and supervising employees
• administering oaths and performing other duties pertinent to the public school system
• advising district superintendents of schools on questions as to the powers, duties and functions of the school district officials

Race background

As in other superintendent races across the country, the national debate over the Common Core educational standards motivated several candidates to enter the race to challenge the incumbent, Republican Janet Barresi. The issue drew additional attention when Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a law repealing the Common Core standards in Oklahoma, making it one of the first states to do so.

Barresi faced a strong primary challenge from educator Joy Hofmeister. Hofmeister raised nearly $1.5 million by the primary election, while Barresi kept pace in part by loaning over $1.25 million to her own campaign. Both Barresi and Hofmeister, along with most other candidates in the race, opposed Common Core and featured that stance in campaign advertising, sometimes criticizing one another for their roles in the standards’ implementation. During a June 17 debate that included Hofmeister and the Democratic candidates, all participants voiced opposition to Common Core and advocated for broader changes in education policy and culture. In total, three Republicans and four Democrats contested the superintendent primaries on June 24.

Hofmeister defeated Barresi in the Republican primary, receiving enough votes to avoid a runoff, and faced Democratic candidate John Cox in the general election.

Primary polling

2014 Republican primary for Oklahoma Superintendent
Poll	Janet Costello Barresi	Joy Hofmeister	Brian S. Kelly	Unsure	Margin of error	Sample size
Sooner Poll May 5-10, 2014	16.4%	17.1%	14.3%	52.1%	+/-4.07	580
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2014 Democratic primary for Oklahoma Superintendent
Poll	Jack C. Herron Jr.	John Cox	Freda Deskin	Ivan Holmes	Unsure	Margin of error	Sample size
Sooner Poll May 5-10, 2014	3.5%	10.6%	14.0%	8.3%	63.5%	+/-3.90	631
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Money in the race

For the reporting period of July 1 through September 30, 2013, Republican challenger Hofmeister raised $91,853. Incumbent Barresi raised $48,850 during the same period.

Commissioner of Insurance

Candidates

General election

John Doak - Incumbent

Lost in primary

Bill Viner

Results

Primary election

Republican primary

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
John Doak	77.5%	189,893
Bill Viner	22.5%	55,173
Total Votes		245,066
Election results via Oklahoma State Election Board.

General election

Doak won re-election without opposition.

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $1,307,272 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
John Doak	Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner		$1,306,359
Bill Viner	Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner		$913
Grand Total Raised			$1,307,272

Duties

The duties of the insurance commissioner are outlined in §36-307of the Oklahoma Statutes:

• responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Oklahoma Insurance Code and of any requirements placed on an insurance company pursuant to subsection L of section 1111 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
• has jurisdiction over complaints against all persons engaged in the business of insurance
• hears all matters either in person, by authorized disinterested employees, or by hearing examiners appointed by the Commissioner for that purpose.
• files and safely keeps all books and papers required by law to be filed with the Insurance Department, and keeps and preserves in permanent form a full record of proceedings, including a concise statement of the conditions of such insurers and other entities reported and examined by the Department and its examiners.
• makes a report to the Governor of the State of Oklahoma of the affairs of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner
• may educate consumers and make recommendations regarding the subject of insurance in this state
• shall set forth in a statement the various sums received and disbursed by the Department, from and to whom and for what purpose.
• shall, upon retiring from office, deliver to the qualified successor all furniture, records, papers and property of the office.

Commissioner of Labor

Candidates

General election

Mark Costello - Incumbent
Mike Workman

Results

General election

Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mark Costello Incumbent	62.8%	504,307
	Democratic	Mike Workman	37.2%	299,284
Total Votes				803,591
Election results via Oklahoma State Election Board

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $519,467 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Mark Costello	Oklahoma Labor Commissioner		$511,150
Mike Workman	Oklahoma Labor Commissioner		$8,317
Grand Total Raised			$519,467

Duties

The official powers and duties are outlined in Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes:

1. foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners of this state
2. improve working conditions of the wage earners
3. advance opportunities of wage earners for profitable employment; and
4. carry into effect all laws in relation to labor enacted by the legislature for which responsibility is assigned to the Commissioner of Labor

Corporation Commissioner

Candidates

Todd Hiett

Filed for other office

Patrice Douglas - Incumbent

Lost in primary

Cliff Branan - state senator

Results

Primary election

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Todd Hiett	52.2%	128,173
Cliff Branan	47.8%	117,169
Total Votes		245,342
Election results via Oklahoma State Election Board.

General election

Hiett won election without opposition

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $1,631,630 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Cliff Branan	Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner		$893,849
Todd Hiett	Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner		$737,781
Grand Total Raised			$1,631,630

Duties

In Article 9, Section 18 of the state constitution, the commission is granted the power and authority to supervise, regulate and control "all transportation companies doing business" in the state. This regulation can include rates, charges, classification of traffic and rules and regulations.

According to its FY 2010 annual report snapshot, the corporation commission is responsible for regulating:

• public utilities (except those under municipal or federal jurisdiction or exempt from regulation)
• oil and gas drilling, production and environmental protection
• aspects of motor carrier, rail and pipeline transportation
• aspects of cotton gins
• aspects of private water companies
• the environmental integrity of petroleum storage tank systems
• the proper operation of fuel dispensing units at retail filling stations

Key deadlines

Deadline	Event
April 11, 2014	Filing deadline for all candidates
June 24, 2014	Primary election
August 26, 2014	Runoff primary election
November 4, 2014	General election
January 12, 2015	Inauguration day for state executive officials elected in November

Recent news

Auditor

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Oklahoma + auditor + election + 2014"

Oklahoma Auditor Election News Feed

Corporation Commissioner

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Oklahoma + corporation + commissioner + election + 2014"

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Election News Feed

Insurance Commissioner

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Oklahoma + insurance + commissioner + election + 2014"

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Election News Feed

Labor Commissioner

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Oklahoma + labor + commissioner + election + 2014"

Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Election News Feed

Superintendent of Public Instruction

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Oklahoma + state + superintendent + election + 2014"

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Election News Feed

Treasurer

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Oklahoma + treasurer + election + 2014"

Oklahoma Treasurer Election News Feed

See also

• Oklahoma state executive official elections, 2014
• Oklahoma Treasurer
• Oklahoma Auditor
• Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Oklahoma Commissioner of Insurance
• Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor
• Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner

External links

Suggest a link

• Oklahoma Treasurer
• Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector
• Oklahoma State Department of Education
• Oklahoma Insurance Department
• Oklahoma Department of Labor
• Oklahoma Corporation Commission