Outside groups reported spending more than $1.8 million combined to support and oppose candidates in the days leading up to Oklahoma’s primary election on Tuesday, according to an analysis of campaign data by The Frontier.
Numerous incumbents in the state Legislature, mostly in the Republican primaries, were either unseated or forced into runoff elections when record numbers of Oklahomans showed up to vote in the primary Tuesday.
In the final days before the election, candidates and outside groups both spent heavily on last-minute television, radio, print, direct mail and social media ads, as well as other election activity, campaign data shows.
Non-candidate groups, such as super PACs and so-called “dark money” groups that do not report their donors, spent heavily on numerous races throughout the state, election data shows.
To examine the influence of non-candidate groups participating in the election, The Frontier examined “independent expenditures” filed during the last two weeks leading up to the election with both the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and the Federal Election Commission. The analysis did not include spending on State Question 788, the medical marijuana ballot measure passed by voters Tuesday, or outside groups that did not report their spending, such as the dark money groups Citizens for Free States, which backed Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Fisher.
The data shows that two-thirds of the $1.8 million total spent by outside groups supporting or opposing candidates, or nearly $1.2 million, was in races that will now require a runoff election, meaning no candidate got a majority of votes.
A runoff election is scheduled for Aug. 28 to determine the final outcome of those races.
In Congressional District 1’s Republican primary race, which featured five candidates vying for the seat vacated by former Congressman Jim Bridenstine, the Washington D.C.-based group Club for Growth Action spent more than $345,000 opposing candidate Kevin Hern, a McDonald’s franchisee who had vastly outspent his opponents. But despite the influx of cash, Hern was able to earn enough support for the runoff election, where he will face former Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris.
Another race where outside groups spent heavily in the primary but ultimately ended in a runoff being necessary includes the Attorney General, where outside groups supporting incumbent Mike Hunter and challenger Gentner Drummond have thus far spent more than three-quarters of a million dollars combined slugging it out in the hotly contested race.
However, among the primary races that were clearly decided on Tuesday night, the majority of non-candidate spending ultimately failed to sway voters, the data shows.
More than $368,000 was spent by outside groups in races with a clear winner who was either not supported or outright opposed by those groups, the data shows.
One example of this occurred in Tulsa’s House District 67, where Republican incumbent Scott McEachin faced off against challenger Jeff Boatman, chief technical officer at Tulsa-based Global Client Solutions.
Though Boatman, whose campaign was almost entirely funded from a $150,000 loan he gave his campaign, outspent McEachin in the race, McEachin was assisted by at least two outside groups that spent money buying ads and attacking Boatman on his behalf.
Catalyst Oklahoma, a dark-money group linked to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, spent $17,500 on McEachin’s behalf a little more than a week before the election, records show, while Oklahoma Federation for Children Action Fund, an education-choice group formerly run by now-U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, spent more than $5,000 in direct support of McEachin and nearly $6,000 attacking Boatman.
However, Boatman won the primary election with 62 percent of the vote, and will face Democrat Carly Hotvedt in the November general election.
In Congressional District 1’s Republican primary, $321,119 was spent by four separate outside groups promoting candidate Andy Coleman. Coleman finished fourth among the five candidates.
Meanwhile, only $239,269 was spent by outside groups in races where a clear winner who was supported by those groups emerged on Tuesday night, according to the data.
PAC/Group | Date | Amount | Type | Decription | Candidate | Candidate Party | Incumbent? | Office | Win? | Support/Oppose |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Future Fund | 6/19/01 | $285,000 | IE | Television Ad | Gentner Drummond | Republican | No | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/14/18 | $2,942.33 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/14/18 | $17,243 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $6,945 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $1,390 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $2,276.85 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $1,623.85 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $3,912 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $3,371.98 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/22/18 | $2,259.75 | IE | Newspaper Ad | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahomans for Constitutional Integrity | 6/13/18 | $20,920.99 | IE | Media Production | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahomans for Constitutional Integrity | 6/8/18 | $379,140 | IE | Media Placement | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahomans for Constitutional Integrity | 6/11/18 | $38,075 | IE | Digital Ads | Mike Hunter | Republican | Yes | Attorney General | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $2,129.60 | IE | Direct Mailing | Travis Dunlap | Republican | Yes | House District 10 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $33,100 | IE | Radio Production & Advertising | Scott Fetgatter | Republican | Yes | House District 16 | - | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $3,339 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Scott Fetgatter | Republican | Yes | House District 16 | - | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $1,336.50 | IE | Direct Mailing | Shawn Howard | Republican | No | House District 25 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $1,336.50 | IE | Direct Mailing | Shawn Howard | Republican | No | House District 25 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $250 | IE | Live Advocacy Calls | Shawn Howard | Republican | No | House District 25 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $2,673 | IE | Direct Mailing | Shawn Howard | Republican | No | House District 25 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $251 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Shawn Howard | Republican | No | House District 25 | NO | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/18/18 | $300 | Live Calls | Shawn Howard | Republican | No | House District 25 | NO | Support | |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,611 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | John Michael Montgomery | Republican | Yes | House District 32 | - | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,558 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Greg Babinec | Republican | Yes | House District 33 | NO | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/23/18 | $2,033.56 | IE | Direct Mail | Greg Babinec | Republican | Yes | House District 33 | NO | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,371 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Steve Vaughan | Republican | Yes | House District 37 | NO | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $4,528 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | John Pfeiffer | Republican | Yes | House District 38 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $23,700 | IE | Radio Production & Advertising | John Pfeiffer | Republican | Yes | House District 38 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $15,100 | IE | Radio Production & Advertising | Brad Raven | Republican | No | House District 38 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/25/18 | $6,400 | IE | Canvassing | Ryan Martinez | Republican | Yes | House District 39 | YES | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/25/18 | $600 | Printing | Ryan Martinez | Republican | Yes | House District 39 | YES | Support | |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/25/18 | $500 | Development of Door Hangers | Ryan Martinez | Republican | Yes | House District 39 | YES | Support | |
Majority Fund | 6/21/18 | $3,775 | IE | Digital And Social Media Ads | Denecia Taylor-Cassil | Republican | No | House District 39 | NO | Oppose |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $2,532 | IE | Direct Mailing | Ryan Martinez | Republican | Yes | House District 39 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,271 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Chad Caldwell | Republican | Yes | House District 40 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $1,497.60 | IE | Direct Mailing | Chad Caldwell | Republican | Yes | House District 40 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $1,412.25 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jay Steagall | Republican | No | House District 43 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $250 | IE | Live Advocacy Calls | Jay Steagall | Republican | No | House District 43 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $1,412 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jay Steagall | Republican | No | House District 43 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $1,412.25 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jay Steagall | Republican | No | House District 43 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $294 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Jay Steagall | Republican | No | House District 43 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/18/18 | $400 | Live Calls | Jay Steagall | Republican | No | House District 43 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support | |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,106 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Tommy Hardin | Republican | Yes | House District 49 | - | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $3,935 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Harold Glenn Wright | Republican | Yes | House District 57 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $26,100 | IE | Radio Production & Advertising | Harold Glenn Wright | Republican | Yes | House District 57 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,567 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Rhonda Baker | Republican | Yes | House District 60 | YES | Support |
Majority Fund | 6/20/18 | $4,724.14 | IE | Direct Mailing | Rhonda Baker | Republican | Yes | House District 60 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $4,324 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Brad Raven | Republican | No | House District 61 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $1,812 | IE | Direct Mailing | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/22/18 | $1,060 | IE | Digital Ads | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/22/18 | $2,367 | IE | Direct Mailing | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $550 | IE | Live Advocacy Calls | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $1,985.25 | IE | Direct Mailing | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $3,624 | IE | Direct Mailing | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $383 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Colton Buckley | Republican | No | House District 61 | NO | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $1,985 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Scooter Park | Republican | Yes | House District 65 | NO | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $12,500 | IE | Digital and Social Media Ads | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $5,000 | IE | Management and Development of Creative | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $5,215 | IE | Media Buy Radio | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $885 | IE | Media Buy Radio | Jeff Boatman | Republican | No | House District 67 | YES | Oppose |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $5,155.50 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jeff Boatman | Republican | No | House District 67 | YES | Oppose |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $650 | IE | Live Advocacy Calls | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $2,577.75 | IE | Direct Mailing | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $6,100 | IE | Media Buy Radio | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $250 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Scott McEachin | Republican | Yes | House District 67 | NO | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $12,500 | IE | Digital and Social Media Ads | Chuck Strohm | Republican | Yes | House District 69 | NO | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $5,000 | IE | Management and Development of Creative | Chuck Strohm | Republican | Yes | House District 69 | NO | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/23/18 | $2,241.93 | IE | Direct Mail | Sheila Dills | Republican | No | House District 69 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $3,023 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Carol Bush | Republican | Yes | House District 70 | - | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $2,418 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Karen Gaddis | Democrat | Yes | House District 75 | YES | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/22/18 | $2,224.58 | IE | Direct Mail | Karen Gilbert | Republican | No | House District 79 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $5,163 | IE | Direct Mailing | Brad Martin | Republican | No | House District 82 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/22/18 | $1,356 | IE | Digital Ads | Brad Martin | Republican | No | House District 82 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $687 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Brad Martin | Republican | No | House District 82 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $1,559.20 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jason Reese | Republican | No | House District 83 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $500 | IE | Live Advocacy Calls | Jason Reese | Republican | No | House District 83 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $1,499 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jason Reese | Republican | No | House District 83 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $1,499.25 | IE | Direct Mailing | Jason Reese | Republican | No | House District 83 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $314 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Jason Reese | Republican | No | House District 83 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/21/18 | $917.60 | IE | Direct Mailing | Ajay Pittman | Democrat | No | House District 99 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/22/18 | $1,124.06 | IE | Direct Mailing | Ajay Pittman | Democrat | No | House District 99 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $917 | IE | Direct Mailing | Ajay Pittman | Democrat | No | House District 99 | YES (RUNOFF) | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/22/18 | $12,500 | Social Media and Ad Placement | Cathy Costello | Republican | No | Labor Commissioner | YES (RUNOFF) | Support | |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/22/18 | $3,750 | Social Media and Ad Placement | Leslie Osborn | Republican | No | Labor Commissioner | YES (RUNOFF) | Oppose | |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/24/18 | $3,750 | Social Media and Ad Placement | Leslie Osborn | Republican | No | Labor Commissioner | YES (RUNOFF) | Oppose | |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $4,620 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Kim David | Republican | Yes | Senate District 18 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $28,612 | IE | Radio Production & Advertising | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
American Wind Action | 6/14/18 | $9,425 | IE | Digital Prouction & Advertising | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $800 | IE | Live Advocacy Calls | Aiya Kelley | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/19/18 | $5,867.40 | IE | Direct Mailing | Aiya Kelley | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/14/18 | $5,867.40 | IE | Direct Mailing | Aiya Kelley | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/26/18 | $345.60 | IE | Advocacy Calling | Aiya Kelley | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | NO | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/22/18 | $479.69 | IE | Door Hangers | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/22/18 | $6,400 | IE | Door Knocking | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $242.23 | IE | T-Shirts | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $666.95 | IE | Push Cards | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
State Chamber of Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $3,890 | IE | Door Knocking | Chuck Hall | Republican | No | Senate District 20 | YES | Support |
Affiliated Anesthesiologists PAC | 6/7/18 | $4,800 | IE | Survey & Social Media Placement | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Support |
Affiliated Anesthesiologists PAC | 6/7/18 | $25,000 | IE | Social Media and Ad Placement | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Support |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $7,500 | IE | Digital and Social Media Ads | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Oppose |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $10,000 | IE | Canvassing | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Oppose |
Catalyst Oklahoma | 6/15/18 | $2,500 | IE | Development of Door Hangers | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Oppose |
Oklahoma Federation of Children Action Fund | 6/25/18 | $2,500 | IE | Digital Ads | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Support |
Oklahoma State Medical Association | 6/20/18 | $10,000 | IE | Direct Mail and Digital Ads | Ervin Yen | Republican | Yes | Senate District 40 | NO | Support |
House Freedom Fund | 6/26/18 | $9,299.71 | IE | Direct Mail | Andy Coleman | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | NO | Support |
Club For Growth Action | 6/15/18 - 6/23/18 | $73,079.70 | IE | Ads | Kevin Hern | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | YES (RUNOFF) | Oppose |
Conservative Leadership Alliance | 6/22/18 | $100,000 | IE | Phone Calls/Media productions | Andy Coleman | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | NO | Oppose |
National Horizon | 6/22/18 | $22,800 | IE | Online Ads | Andy Coleman | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | NO | Support |
With Honor Fund | 6/20/18 | $9,420.33 | IE | TV Ads | Andy Coleman | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | NO | Support |
House Freedom Fund | 6/20/18 | $1,080.74 | IE | Direct Mail | Andy Coleman | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | NO | Support |
Club For Growth Action | 6/14/18 | $272,428.53 | IE | Ads | Kevin Hern | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | YES (RUNOFF) | Oppose |
With Honor Fund | 6/14/18 | $187,890 | IE | Ads | Andy Coleman | Republican | No | Congressional District 1 | NO | Support |