Oklahoma Republicans maintained their grip on statewide offices and congressional seats in Tuesday’s election, but Democrats made significant gains in legislative races and showed renewed strength in parts of the state.
From the defeat of several Republican legislative leaders to shifting voting patterns in the governor’s race and declining voter turnout, the results offer a glimpse of Oklahoma’s changing political landscape.
Here are five takeaways from the 2026 election.
Democrats flip legislative seats
Republicans retained their supermajority in the Oklahoma Legislature in Tuesday’s election, but at least six seats have flipped to Democrats. Newly Democratic-held seats include those previously held by Republican incumbents, some in party leadership positions.
House Assistant Majority Whip Eric Roberts, District 83, lost to Democratic challenger Dalton Gau, 53% to 46%. Rep. Tammy West, District 84, House Majority Whip, lost to Jeffrey Perez, 51% to 48%. Rep. Max Wolfley, District 97, lost to Democratic challenger Tegan Malone 52% to 43%.
Rep. TJ Marti, District 75, chair of the House Insurance and Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances committees, lost to Joe Watkins 53% to 46%. Rep. Marilyn Stark, District 100, lost to Chaunte Gilmore, 59% to 40%.
Democrats were also able to pick up an open seat in Comanche County in District 64 previously held by Rep. Rande Worthen, who did not seek reelection this year. Following issues with vote reporting in Comanche County late Tuesday, by Wednesday morning, vote totals showed Democrat Kathy Shuttles was able to win a narrow victory against Republican Louis Jackson 50% to 49%.
Munson makes gains in urban counties
Cyndi Munson had strong support in urban areas, winning Oklahoma, Tulsa and Cleveland counties in the governor’s race. She also flipped Payne County, which voted Republican in the 2022 governor’s race. Votes in the governor’s race shifted 28 points more Democratic compared with the 2024 presidential election, NBC News reported.
Inola’s smelter opposition splits the vote
In Inola, opposition to a proposed aluminum smelter backed by Mazzei didn’t translate into more votes for Munson. Mazzei received 44.6% of the vote in the town’s two voting precincts, but only about 35% of voters chose Munson. Independent candidate Robert E. Brooks, who came out against the smelter, received 15% of the vote.
In 2022, incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt won Inola by more than 70%, and no independent candidate received more than 2% of the vote.
Incumbent Republican Rogers County Commissioner Ron Burrows, who has been a proponent of the Inola smelter and received support from groups tied to Gov. Kevin Stitt during the election, was able to hold on to his seat against Democratic challenger Thomas Trolinger with 58% of the vote.
Republicans hold all five congressional seats
A few races were close, but Republicans still kept control of all of Oklahoma’s five congressional seats. Republican incumbent Stephanie Bice narrowly retained her seat in the 5th Congressional District, with 49.4% of the vote to Democratic challenger Jena Nelson’s 48.2%. Republican candidate Mark Tedford faced a close race against Democratic candidate John Croisant in the 1st Congressional District, but ultimately pulled out a victory with 52% of the vote.
Voter turnout falls below recent elections
Voter turnout wasn’t as high as in previous gubernatorial elections. A little more than 45% of registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election, compared to 50% in 2022 and 56% in 2018.
Clifton joined The Frontier in April 2017. A native of southeastern Oklahoma, he covers numerous issues from criminal justice, energy, the environment and politics. Clifton holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Email him at clifton@readfrontier.com.