06/17/2026
Oklahoma Primary Election Sets Up Key August Runoffs; Several Close Races Highlight Night
Oklahoma voters cast ballots in the state's first major election of the year Tuesday, producing several decisive victories and setting up a number of runoff races that will take place in August.
In the race for governor, Republicans Gentner Drummond and Mike Mazzei advanced to an August runoff. In Noble County, Drummond received 31.03 percent of the Republican vote while Mazzei earned 15.49 percent. Statewide, Drummond led with 26.26 percent and Mazzei followed with 25.97 percent. The winner will face Democrat Cyndi Munson in November after she secured 74.93 percent of the statewide vote and 79.61 percent locally.
The Republican race for State Superintendent will also head to a runoff between Robert Franklin and James Taylor. The winner will face Democrat Jena Nelson Marshall in November.
House District 38, which serves north-central Oklahoma, featured a close Republican contest between Madison Bolay and Danielle Deterding. Locally, Bolay received 39.40 percent and Deterding received 8.87 percent. Statewide, Bolay received 31.5 percent compared to Deterding's 26.52 percent. The winner will face Democrat Doyle Lewis in November.
Republican candidates Bob Sullivan and former State Sen. Marty Quinn advanced to an August runoff for Insurance Commissioner. The winner will face Democrat Craig Macintyre in November.
Another close Republican contest was the race for Labor Commissioner. State Rep. Kevin West and State Rep. John Pfeiffer will meet in a runoff. In Noble County, Pfeiffer led with 68.75 percent while West received 20.15 percent. Statewide, West received 41.78 percent and Pfeiffer earned 35.27 percent. The winner will face Democrat Kevin Dawson and Libertarian Mike Hall in November.
One of the closest races of the night came in the District 8 Judge, Office 1 contest. Locally, Rob Davis received 29.64 percent, Scott Loftis had 34.38 percent and incumbent Lee Turner received 35.95 percent. Statewide, Davis received 3,663 votes, Loftis received 3,287 votes and Turner received 3,279 votes. Just eight votes separated Turner and Loftis, leaving open the possibility of a recount.
State Question 832, one of the most closely watched issues on the ballot, failed statewide. There were 281,171 votes in favor, or 44.62 percent, and 348,914 votes against, or 55.38 percent. Noble County voters opposed the measure by a margin of 72.71 percent to 27.29 percent.
In another close local race, Darrell Newell defeated incumbent Nick Hughes for Noble County Commissioner District 3 with 50.93 percent of the vote to Hughes' 49.07 percent.
Republican Jon Echols won the Attorney General race and will face Democrat Nick Coffey in November. Former State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd defeated incumbent State Treasurer Todd Russ, marking the first statewide incumbent defeat since 2014.
U.S. Rep. Frank D. Lucas won his race and will face Democrat Suzie Byrd in November. Republican T.W. Shannon advanced in the Lt. Governor's race and will face Democrat Kelly Forbes.
Sen. Chuck Hall won re-election in Senate District 20, defeating Mark LeMarr, while Rep. Dillon Travis won re-election in House District 35 over Kevin Wright.
In the race for Corporation Commissioner, Republican Brad Boles will face Rhonda Eastman in November. U.S. Sen. Kevin Hern will face Democrat N'Kiyla Jasmine Taylor in the general election.
