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
Laster pleased with Ellis’ apparent victory in Senate District 5
A Shawnee Senator who will lead the Senate next year if Democrats gain control praised voters in southeastern Oklahoma for their votes for Democratic candidate Jerry Ellis.
Sen. Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee, said voters of Senate District 5 in southeastern Oklahoma have spoken and will send Ellis, 61, of Valliant, to the Senate to replace Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, who cannot run again because of term limits.
Ellis was running against Steve Young, Clayton, in the Democratic primary.
Laster has been picked by fellow Democrats to be the Senate President Pro Tempore, although Republicans think they will take control of the Senate. That would mean that Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, would be the Senate President Pro Tempore.
– John Greiner
Primary sets stage for battle to control state Senate
Voters in seven state Senate districts tonight are voting to decide who advances to the August runoff election or the general election in November.
The primary election is the first of many battles for one of the most important political struggles this year — control of the state Senate.
With Republicans controlling the state House and the Senate evenly divided, both parties are looking for an edge. If the Republicans take charge of the Senate and hold their majority in the House, they’ll have control of the Legislature for the first time in state history. Demcrats hope to stave off that challenge and win back the Senate.
The first step starts tonight with the primary.
