Oklahoma state legislative special elections, 2017
In 2017, seven special elections were called to fill vacant seats in the Oklahoma State Legislature. All seven vacancies were filled. Four of the seven special elections held in 2017 resulted in Democrats winning a seat previously held by Republicans.
- Senate District 44 and House District 75 held elections on July 11, which resulted in those seats flipping from Republican control to Democratic control.[1]
- On September 12, House District 46 flipped from Republican control to Democratic control.[2]
- On November 14, Democrats flipped Senate District 37 from Republican control to Democratic control.[3]
House special elections held:
- District 28: May 9
- District 75: July 11
- District 46: September 12
- District 76: November 14
Senate special elections held:
- District 44: July 11
- District 37: November 14
- District 45: November 14
How vacancies are filled in Oklahoma
If there is a vacancy in the Oklahoma State Legislature, the governor must call a special election no later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs. No special election can be called if the vacancy occurs in an even-numbered year and if the term of office will expire in that year. This second provision allows special elections to be held for outgoing senators with two or more years left in their terms.[4]
If a senator announces his or her resignation before March 1 but the effective date lies between the general election and the new session, a special election can be held on the general election dates. The winner of this election will take office upon the senator's official resignation. This only applies to senators with two or more years remaining in their terms.[4]
See sources: Oklahoma Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 12-106
About the legislature
The Oklahoma Legislature is the legislative branch of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the November 2016 elections. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, see here (Senate) and here (House).
Oklahoma State Senate | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
Democratic Party | 9 | 6 | |
Republican Party | 39 | 42 | |
Total | 48 | 48 |
Oklahoma House of Representatives | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
Democratic Party | 30 | 26 | |
Republican Party | 71 | 75 | |
Total | 101 | 101 |
Special elections
May 9, 2017
☑ Oklahoma House of Representatives District 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma House of Representatives District 28 was held on May 9, 2017. A primary election took place on March 7, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 10, 2017.[5] The seat was vacant following Tom Newell's (R) resignation to take a position in the private sector. Steve Barnes defeated Jason Leonard, Yasminda Choate, Blake Cummings, and Marilyn Rainwater in the Democratic primary. Zack Taylor defeated Billy Choate, Daniel Matthews, and Mike Matlock in the Republican primary. Cody Presley ran as a Libertarian candidate. Taylor defeated Barnes and Presley in the May 9 general election, winning with 50.5 percent of the vote. That was a departure from November 2016 when Donald Trump earned 73 percent of the vote in District 28.[6]
|
July 11, 2017
☑ Oklahoma State Senate District 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma State Senate District 44 was held on July 11, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 3, 2017.[7] The seat was vacant following Ralph Shortey's (R) resignation. On March 16, 2017, Shortey was charged with engaging in prostitution, engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church, and transporting a minor for prostitution.[8] He resigned from the state Senate on March 22, 2017.[9] Michael Brooks (D) defeated Joe Griffin (R) in the general election, flipping the seat from Republican control to Democratic control. Brooks earned 54.6 percent of the vote.[10]
|
☑ Oklahoma House of Representatives District 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma House of Representatives District 75 was held on July 11, 2017. A primary election took place on May 9, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 14, 2017.[11] The seat was vacant following Dan Kirby's (R) resignation. Kirby resigned on February 4, 2017, after facing expulsion from the state House due to accusations of inappropriate conduct with legislative assistants. His resignation was effective on March 1, 2017.[12] Karen Gaddis defeated Jamie Smith in the Democratic primary. Tressa Nunley defeated Skip Steele, Nik Berg, and AJ Oatsvall in the Republican primary. Gaddis defeated Nunley in the July 11 general election, flipping the seat from Republican control to Democratic control. Gaddis earned 52.3 percent of the vote.[10]
|
September 12, 2017
☑ Oklahoma House of Representatives District 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma House of Representatives District 46 was held on September 12, 2017. A primary election took place on July 11, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 3, 2017.[13] The seat was vacant following Scott Martin's (R) resignation. Martin resigned from the state House in order to direct the Norman Chamber of Commerce. His resignation was effective May 31, 2017.[14] Jacob Rosecrants (D) defeated Darin Chambers (R) in the September 12 general election.[2] Rosecrants ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Chambers defeated Charlie Samples and Jimmy Shannon in the Republican primary.[10]
|
November 14, 2017
☑ Oklahoma State Senate District 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma State Senate District 37 was held on November 14, 2017. A primary election took place on September 12, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 28, 2017.[15] On June 6, 2017, Senator Dan Newberry (R) announced that he would resign from the state Senate, effective January 31, 2018. He cited his pursuit of a professional promotion in a press release.[16] Allison Ikley-Freeman (D) defeated Brian O'Hara (R) in the November 14 general election.[3] Ikley-Freeman ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. O'Hara defeated Grady Grant, Brian Jackson, Rick Hardesty, Nicole Nixon, R. Jay McAtee, and Phil Nollan in the Republican primary.[2]
|
☑ Oklahoma State Senate District 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma State Senate District 45 was held on November 14, 2017. A primary election took place on August 8, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 7, 2017.[17] The seat was vacant after Kyle D. Loveless (R) resigned on April 27, 2017, amid an investigation by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.[18] Paul Rosino (R) defeated Steven Vincent (D) in the November 14 general election.[3] Vincent defeated Noah Ynclan in the Democratic primary. Rosino defeated Brian Walters, Duane Smith, Kerry Pettingill, Scott Harris, Diane Means, and Mathew Hamrick in the Republican primary.[19]
|
☑ Oklahoma House of Representatives District 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Oklahoma House of Representatives District 76 was held on November 14, 2017. A primary election took place on August 8, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 7, 2017.[20] The seat was left vacant after David Brumbaugh (R) passed away on April 15, 2017.[21] Ross Ford (R) defeated Chris Vanlandingham (D) in the November 14 general election.[3] Vanlandingham defeated Forrest Mayer in the Democratic primary. Ford defeated Cliff Johns, Brian Elliott, Shelley Brumbaugh, and Jess Guthrie in the Republican primary. Unofficial results put Ford on top of the five-way Republican primary with 30.8 percent of the vote, while Brumaugh earned 29.9 percent of the vote and Elliott earned 28.5 percent of the vote.[19]
|
Special elections throughout the country
Between 2011 and 2016, an average of 70 special elections took place each year. A total of 25 states use special elections to fill legislative vacancies. In two other states—Illinois and Indiana—special elections are used in limited circumstances. The rest of the states fill vacancies either through appointments made by the governor of the state or by a commission made up of officials from the former member's party. In 2017, 98 state legislative seats were filled through special elections.
Breakdown of 2017 special elections
In 2017, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:
- 46 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 1 due to an ineligible general election candidate
- 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 22 due to a retirement
- 15 due to a death
The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:
- 46 Democratic seats
- 53 Republican seats
Impact of special elections on partisan composition
The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections. It is not typical to see significant net changes in overall state legislative party composition because of special elections. In elections between 2011 and 2016, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of three seats across the country, although actual races won and lost by each party varied more. For instance, in 2015, Democrats lost nine seats to Republicans but won six different seats in other races, resulting in a net loss of three seats.
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.
Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Special Election | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 45 | 56 | |
Republican Party | 53 | 42 | |
Independent | - | - | |
Total | 98 | 98 |
Flipped seats
In total, 17 state legislative seats flipped party control in 2017. Democrats flipped 14 seats and Republicans flipped three seats as a result of special state legislative elections in 2017.
Seats flipped from D to R
- Louisiana House of Representatives District 42 (March 25)
- Mississippi State Senate District 10 (November 28)
- Massachusetts State Senate Worcester & Middlesex District (December 5)
Seats flipped from R to D
- New Hampshire House of Representatives District Carroll 6 (May 23)
- New York State Assembly District 9 (May 23)
- Oklahoma State Senate District 44 (July 11)
- Oklahoma House of Representatives District 75 (July 11)
- New Hampshire House of Representatives District Belknap 9 (September 12)
- Oklahoma House of Representatives District 46 (September 12)
- New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 4 (September 26)
- Florida State Senate District 40 (September 26)
- New Hampshire House of Representatives District Hillsborough 15 (November 7)
- Georgia House of Representatives District 117 (November 7)
- Georgia House of Representatives District 119 (November 7)
- Washington State Senate District 45 (November 7)
- Oklahoma State Senate District 37 (November 14)
- Georgia State Senate District 6 (December 5)
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2017
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2016
- Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2016
- Oklahoma State Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Oklahoma State Election Board, "Unofficial Results - Special Elections - September," accessed September 12, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Oklahoma State Election Board, "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - Special Elections - November," accessed November 14, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Justia US Law, "2014 Oklahoma Statutes Title 26. Elections §26-12-106. Vacancies in the Legislature," accessed February 3, 2023 (Statute 26-12-106(A), Oklahoma Statutes)
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State House of Representatives District 28 Special Election," accessed February 27, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official Results - Special Elections - May," June 6, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State Senator District 44 Special Election," accessed March 30, 2017
- ↑ KFOR, "Oklahoma law allows Sen. Ralph Shortey to keep his state retirement even if convicted of prostitution with a minor," March 16, 2017
- ↑ News OK, "Oklahoma Sen. Shortey resigns after being charged," March 22, 2017
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Oklahoma State Election Board, "OFFICIAL RESULTS," August 3, 2017 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "okjul11" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State House of Representatives District 75 Special Election," accessed February 27, 2017
- ↑ NewsOK, "Facing possible expulsion or loss of legislative clout, Rep. Dan Kirby resigns," February 4, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State House of Representatives District 46 Special Election," accessed April 5, 2017
- ↑ News OK, "Oklahoma state rep leaving seat for Norman Chamber," accessed March 20, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State Senator District 37 Special Election," accessed August 15, 2017
- ↑ nondoc.com, "Dan Newberry resigns from Oklahoma State Senate," June 6, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State Senator District 45 Special Election," accessed May 4, 2017
- ↑ kfor.com, "Breaking: Oklahoma Sen. Kyle Loveless submits resignation letter amid criminal investigation," April 27, 2017
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Oklahoma State Election Board, "Special Legislative Races Special Election — August 8, 2017," accessed August 8, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "State House of Representatives District 76 Special Election," accessed May 4, 2017
- ↑ Fox 23 News, "State Rep. David Brumbaugh dies suddenly at 56," April 17, 2017
![]() |
State of Oklahoma Oklahoma City (capital) |
---|---|
Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |