OK Senate goes to GOP

State voters make tough choices
STATE SENATE
WITH GOP WIN, THE PARTY TAKES LEGISLATURE LEADERSHIP
By Julie Bisbee
Capitol Bureau
jbisbee@opubco.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2008


The Republicans will have the majority in the state Senate for the first time in history.

Republicans in Tuesday's election retained incumbent seats and picked up at least two seats to get the majority in the Senate.


Vote totals in a third race between Republican incumbent Jim Reynolds and Democrat David Boren still were being counted late Tuesday in the District 43 race. Boren is not related to U.S. Rep. Dan Boren. Less than 100 votes separated the candidates.


Even with the final count still out in District 43, Republicans bested the Democrats by two seats. The Democrats and Republicans had been tied at 24 and shared control of the Senate since 2006.


Sen. Glenn Coffee, co-president pro-tempore, said having John McCain on the ballot gave the Republicans additional momentum. McCain took the majority of the votes in Oklahoma.


"He carried the state and we've had great candidates who did a good job, and the message resonated with the voters," Coffee said.


A new agenda


While bemoaning the outcome of the presidential election, Republicans celebrated their win at the state House, promising to push for pro-business, pro-tort reform and a pro-family agenda.


The newly elected candidates lined up behind Coffee onstage at the state GOP watch party.


"We're going to change Oklahoma," Coffee said. "You're looking at the best bunch of All-Americans any coach could ask for."


Republicans took control of the Senate by picking up two Democrat-held seats, including a seat in the Tulsa area held by a senator who switched parties in 2006, stoping a GOP majority that year.


Sen. Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa, lost to Republican Dan Newberry. Republicans picked up a Stillwater seat with a win by James Halligan, former Oklahoma State University president, who beat a former judge, Democrat Bob Murphy. Halligan will fill Democrat Mike Morgan's seat, who was term limited.


Democrat Sen. Charlie Laster, co-floor leader, said Barack Obama's decision not to campaign in Oklahoma hurt the state races.


"There's no question, the Obama factor was too much for us to overcome," Laster said. "When the guy at the top of the ticket abandons the state from the start and leaves us swinging in the wind, our candidates have to outperform the other candidates by nearly 16 points or more. That's just a tough deal."