State Senate races shaping up

Tulsa State Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre was on her way to winning a second term in the state Senate tonight.

With 17 of 37 precincts reporting, McIntyre had a 1,193 to 185 lead over Prophet Kelly L. Clark of Tulsa in the winner-take-all Democratic primary. No Republicans or independents filed for this Senate District 11 seat so Tuesday’s winner will be the state senator.

In Stillwater, former Associate District Judge Bob Murphy was defeating Gregory Wilson, police and fire chief of Carney, 1,138 to 526 with 20 of 43 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary in Senate District 21.

The winner faces retired Oklahoma State University President Jim Halligan, a Republican, in the general election. This is a political battleground seat for control of the state Senate. The seat is open because incumbent Democrat Sen. Mike Morgan cannot run again because of legislative term limits.

Democrats and Republicans currently have 24 members each in the Senate, and both sides want to take control of the Senate.

In another battleground Senate district, Dan Newberry was defeating Jan Megee 739 to 221 with 14 of 41 precincts reporting in the Republican primary. They are vying for a chance to challenge incumbent Democrat Sen. Nancy Riley of Tulsa in the Nov. 4 general election.

Riley was elected to this district as a Republican but switched parties two years ago, denying the Republicans control of the state Senate. Republicans are out to win that seat and control of the Senate.

Five Republicans are battling for a Senate District 45 seat that includes portions of Canadian, Cleveland and Oklahoma counties.

This could end in a runoff election Aug. 26. But whoever wins the Republican nomination is the next senator. No Democrats or independents filed for this seat that was open because incumbent Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma

City, had to step down because of legislative term limits. With 9 of 34 precincts reporting, Steve Russell, a retired Army colonel from Oklahoma City who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, is leading a five-person race with 102 votes. Kyle D. Loveless, business manager of Loveless Shoes and Loveless Orthopedic Appliance, has 80 votes.Former Oklahoma City councilman Jerry Foshee, has 77 votes. Oklahoma City; Melinda Daugherty, a self employed Oklahoma City businesswoman, has 38 votes, and Marty Gormley, a teacher from

Moore, has 12 votes.– John Greiner

Thank you for joining our conversation on NewsOK Now. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.