Some seemed to have too much
There was plenty of drinking of beer, wine and harder drinks last night, both by Democrats and Republicans.
Unfortunately, some seemed to have drank too much.
As watch parties broke up last night, the streets of downtown Oklahoma City were filled with the sound of honking –by drivers celebrating President-elect Barack Obama’s historic win.
The streets also had drivers running red lights and swerving from lane to lane.
Outside a watch party for Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, who lost, a guy in a pickup repeatedly opened his door to throw up on the street. An Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy checked on him and reported back someone else was in the pickup to drive the guy home.
Last-minute returns grant narrow state Senate victory for Reynolds
A snag at one Cleveland County precinct made the wait to declare a winner in Senate District 43 an agonizing affair. With one precinct out, it appeared Democrat David Boren might upset incumbent Republican Jim Reynolds.
But in the words of Yogi Berra, it ain’t over till it’s over.
That last precinct made all the difference. In a race where Boren led by about 200 votes, the final returns turned the tide.
Reynolds earned 1,094 votes in that precinct; Boren tallied 736. The final result:
FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 43 38 OF 38
JIM REYNOLDS REP 13,826 50.29%
DAVID BOREN DEM 13,667 49.71%
Reynolds wins by the slightest of margins. That’s political drama.
Bob Doucette
The difference in this presidential election
As we learned from 2000, you can win the popular vote but still lose the election. It really is about which states you win.
Looking at the electoral map, some things are pretty clear from this election. Barack Obama made headway in areas where the GOP had previously been strong. And he won in all the right places.
For starters: It appears Obama pulled off a Great Lakes sweep. Indiana still isn’t official, but as of 1 a.m., it’s leaning Obama. The rest of the Great Lakes states — including Ohio (former red state) went for the Democratic candidate.
Next: Obama nearly achieved a sweep of the Eastern Seaboard. South Carolina and Georgia went for John McCain, but every other East Coast state went for Obama. North Carolina, of course, isn’t official at the time of this writing. But it was leaning Obama. It was Bush country in ’04. Florida and Virginia are not in doubt, and these former GOP prizes shifted into the Democrat column.
That pretty much sealed it. McCain couldn’t really afford to lose either Ohio or Florida. But that’s what happened, and then some.
Going back to my introduction, we didn’t have to worry about a repeat of 2000. Obama carried the popular vote as well.
Bob Doucette
Wild night of history in the making
We saw some history in the making tonight, not only nationally but also here in Oklahoma.
Obviously, the election of Barack Obama has historical ramifications that can’t be understated. The dramatic way in which he won states that had long been GOP strongholds spoke volumes about how much of the nation was ready for a switch.
Not so in Oklahoma. Not only did Oklahoma voters choose John McCain in overwhelming numbers, but those same voters decided to give control of the state Senate — and by default, the Legislature — to the Republicans. At no time in state history has this happened, and it will likely make for an interesting couple of legislative sessions for Gov. Brad Henry. He’ll be the lone check on the GOP’s legislative agenda for the next two years.
Bob Doucette
State senate control to GOP
BY RANDY ELLIS
Staff Writer
rellis@opubco.com
Oklahoma Republicans whooped and hollered Tuesday night as state Senate co-leader Glenn Coffee announced Republicans had seized control of the state Senate for the first time in Oklahoma history.
“We’re going to change Oklahoma,” Coffee declared, as newly elected Republicans lined up on the podium behind him at an Oklahoma City Republican watch party. “You’re looking at the best bunch of all-Americans a coach could ask for.”
The final numbers were still being tallied, but Coffee said it looked like Republicans had gained at least two seats to break the current tie in the Senate.
Republicans also retained control of the House, Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge announced.
Coffee said state Republicans would immediately begin pushing a pro business, pro tort reform, pro family agenda.
From the Democratic watch party: History
BY KEN RAYMOND
The words aren’t there.
I’m sitting in a ballroom filled with people who are crying, dancing, singing, chanting, swaying and touching, reaching out to each other as if they cannot believe what is happening and want the affirmation of a touch to prove they’re not dreaming.
I’ve been to other watch parties in other years. They weren’t like this.
This is something else, something different. This is an event that defies the standard words.
What’s happening here isn’t just about a winner and a loser. It’s not about politics as much as it is about a dream, the American Dream, which until now has somehow seemed to be the exclusive domain of others, those who were born with money and influence, those who speak glibly of opportunity when they’ve never known anything else.
To that woman crying over there, bent over her cell phone, this isn’t just an election. To those who screamed and stretched their hands toward heaven when a speaker on stage hoarsely shouted, “Barack Obama, President of the United States,” this isn’t business as usual.
“There’s a black man for President,” said Gail Chapman, 55, whose eyes were as tearful as anyone’s as she watched a hope she hardly dared foster turning to reality. “I’m so proud, and I’m happy that America helped us get him in, because it wasn’t just one race. It was everybody. Everybody worked together.”
Chapman never expected to see this day.
“Never in my life,” she said. “Never in my lifetime. It’s awesome. It’s great. And not just because he’s black. He’s a great candidate. He’s a great man. I just thank God that he’s the President. He’s going to do some great things. He’s going to do great things for America.”
On this night, she said, America triumphed over race and fear.
Words fail.
Last word from the GOP party
Now that the major races have been determined, nearly everyone is leaving the Republican watch party at the Marriott Hotel in Oklahoma City. Some of the younger attendees are making plans for continuing their celebration outside the Marriott, and other participants are heading upstairs to their rooms. Most of those remaining are elected officials and their families. Congratulations and gratitude is being passed around left and right. Few are discussing McCain’s defeat; the talk is about local election success and the future of the state legislature.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
District 43 State Senate a nail-biter
State Senator, District 43
Jim Reynolds (i) 12931 50.39%
David Boren 12732 49.61%
37 of 38 precincts reporting.
Murphy says thanks
“I feel incredibly grateful to the voters of Oklahoma for selecting me, based on my qualifications and experience,” said Dana Murphy, with about 90 percent of the state’s precincts reporting. “I wanted to give Oklahomans somebody to vote for, not to vote against.”
“We always knew it was going to be a tight race,” Roth said. “We worked very hard.”
Yes across the board on State Questions
State Question No. 735 – Personal Property Tax Exemption for Injured Vets
Yes 833997 84.99%
No 147332 15.01%
1722 of 2231 precincts reporting.
State Question No. 741 – Requirement to File Application for Property Tax Exemption
Yes 652113 67.65%
No 311903 32.35%
1722 of 2231 precincts reporting.
State Question No. 742 – Constitutional Amendment Providing the Right to Hunt, Trap, and Fish
Yes 784952 80.26%
No 193035 19.74%
1722 of 2231 precincts reporting.
State Question No. 743 – Allows Wineries to Sell Directly to Package Stores and Restaurants
Yes 766144 78.55%
No 209272 21.45%
1722 of 2231 precincts reporting.
