Politics of Oklahoma
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 1,020,280 | 65.37% | 503,890 | 32.29% | 36,529 | 2.34% |
2016 | 949,136 | 65.32% | 420,375 | 28.93% | 83,481 | 5.75% |
2012 | 891,325 | 66.77% | 443,547 | 33.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
2008 | 960,165 | 65.65% | 502,496 | 34.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
2004 | 959,792 | 65.57% | 503,966 | 34.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
2000 | 744,337 | 60.31% | 474,276 | 38.43% | 15,616 | 1.27% |
1996 | 582,315 | 48.26% | 488,105 | 40.45% | 136,293 | 11.29% |
1992 | 592,929 | 42.65% | 473,066 | 34.02% | 324,364 | 23.33% |
1988 | 678,367 | 57.93% | 483,423 | 41.28% | 9,246 | 0.79% |
1984 | 861,530 | 68.61% | 385,080 | 30.67% | 9,066 | 0.72% |
1980 | 695,570 | 60.50% | 402,026 | 34.97% | 52,112 | 4.53% |
1976 | 545,708 | 49.96% | 532,442 | 48.75% | 14,101 | 1.29% |
1972 | 759,025 | 73.70% | 247,147 | 24.00% | 23,728 | 2.30% |
1968 | 449,697 | 47.68% | 301,658 | 31.99% | 191,731 | 20.33% |
1964 | 412,665 | 44.25% | 519,834 | 55.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 533,039 | 59.02% | 370,111 | 40.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 473,769 | 55.13% | 385,581 | 44.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 518,045 | 54.59% | 430,939 | 45.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 268,817 | 37.25% | 452,782 | 62.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
1944 | 319,424 | 44.20% | 401,549 | 55.57% | 1,663 | 0.23% |
1940 | 348,872 | 42.23% | 474,313 | 57.41% | 3,027 | 0.37% |
1936 | 245,122 | 32.69% | 501,069 | 66.83% | 3,549 | 0.47% |
1932 | 188,165 | 26.70% | 516,468 | 73.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 394,046 | 63.72% | 219,174 | 35.44% | 5,207 | 0.84% |
1924 | 226,242 | 42.82% | 255,798 | 48.41% | 46,375 | 8.78% |
1920 | 243,831 | 50.11% | 217,053 | 44.61% | 25,726 | 5.29% |
1916 | 97,233 | 33.25% | 148,113 | 50.65% | 47,070 | 16.10% |
1912 | 90,786 | 35.77% | 119,156 | 46.95% | 43,859 | 17.28% |
1908 | 110,474 | 43.33% | 122,363 | 47.99% | 22,146 | 8.69% |
The politics of Oklahoma exists in a framework of a
Oklahoma is currently categorized politically as
Until 1964,
History
Early history
Oklahoma politics from statehood through
New Deal coalition
At the
During this same period,
Southern strategy
During the
Gradually, the success of the Republican Party began to translate into Congressional, legislative, and other local political races.
21st century
By the start of the 21st century, conservative Republicans increased their strength in Oklahoma on the statewide level, but Democrats were still a major factor in statewide politics. This began to change in 2004, when the Republicans took control of the state House for only the second time ever, and the first time since 1922. In
In 2008, the Republicans gained two state senate seats, taking control 26–22 of that chamber for the first time in state history, while increasing their membership in the state House to a 61–40 advantage. The Republicans thus had complete control of the state legislature for the first time ever. In addition, Oklahoma was the only state where John McCain carried every county (even though Democrats still had a majority of registered voters).[7]
The 2010 statewide election saw a historic sweep, as for the first time in Oklahoma history, the GOP won every statewide office up for election that year. In 2010, the GOP increased its majority in the House by six seats and in the Senate by five seats.[8] (One seat, State Senate District 47, was vacant, as incumbent Todd Lamb was elected Lieutenant Governor, and was filled by special election in January 2011.) The Republicans thus had complete control of state government for the first time ever. On the Congressional front, Tom Coburn held his U.S. Senate seat and the GOP maintained control of the four House seats it held, and came within 6 points of taking Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, the only Oklahoman Congressional seat not held by the GOP. No Democrat has won a statewide election in Oklahoma since, although incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, who was elected twice as a Republican, switched her affiliation to Democratic in 2021 and retired in 2023.
In the 2012 statewide election, the GOP captured the 2nd District seat, and thus held every statewide office as well as the entire Congressional delegation. The GOP also increased its majorities in the Oklahoma Legislature by four seats in the
Political institutions
As in the national government of the United States, power in Oklahoma is divided into three main branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
Executive
The
Other statewide executive offices are contested in elections and serving four-year terms that run concurrent with that of the Governor, with the exception of the three members of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Those members serve staggered six-year terms, with one member's term up for election every two years.
Current executive branch
Office | Current Officer | Since | Party |
---|---|---|---|
Governor of Oklahoma | Kevin Stitt | January 14, 2019 | Republican |
Lieutenant Governor | Matt Pinnell | January 14, 2019 | Republican |
Secretary of State
|
Brian Bingman | January 14, 2019 | Republican |
State Auditor and Inspector | Cindy Byrd | January 14, 2019 | Republican |
Attorney General | Gentner Drummond | January 9, 2023 | Republican |
State Treasurer
|
Todd Russ | January 9, 2023 | Republican |
State School Superintendent | Ryan Walters | January 9, 2023 | Republican |
Labor Commissioner | Leslie Osborn | January 14, 2019 | Republican |
Insurance Commissioner | Glen Mulready | January 14, 2019 | Republican |
Corporation Commissioner (by length of tenure) | Bob Anthony | January 9, 1989 | Republican |
Corporation Commissioner | Dana Murphy | January 12, 2009 | Republican |
Corporation Commissioner | Todd Hiett | January 12, 2015 | Republican |
Legislative
The state legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives, with members elected directly by the people. There are 48 state senators, each serving a staggered four-year term and 101 members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, each serving a two-year term. Members of both houses are elected from single member districts of equal population.
The state has term limits for their legislature that restrict any one person to a total of twelve years service in both the House and Senate.
The state legislature convenes in regular session at noon each odd-numbered year on the first Monday in February.[9] However, in the odd-numbered years following an election, the state legislature must meet on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January for the sole purpose of determining the outcome of the statewide elections. The state constitution limits the state legislature to meeting 160 legislative days during each biennium.[10] In addition, the legislature may not meet in regular session after the last Friday in May of each year.[9]
Current composition
In the 58th Legislature, the Republicans control both houses with an 81-20 majority in the House and a 40-8 majority in the Senate.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives
Affiliation | Members | |
---|---|---|
Republican Party | 81 | |
Democratic Party | 20 | |
Seat Vacant | 0 | |
Total | 101 |
The Oklahoma Senate
Affiliation | Members | |
---|---|---|
Republican Party | 40 | |
Democratic Party | 8 | |
Seat Vacant | 0 | |
Total | 48 |
Current leadership
The Oklahoma House of Representatives
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
Speaker of the Oklahoma House
|
Charles McCall | Republican | January 3, 2017 |
Speaker Pro Tempore of the House
|
Kyle Hilbert | Republican | |
Majority Leader
|
Jon Echols | Republican | |
Minority Leader
|
Emily Virgin | Democratic
|
The Oklahoma Senate
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
President of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor
|
Matt Pinnell | Republican | January 14, 2019 |
President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate | Greg Treat | Republican | |
Republican Floor Leader
|
Greg McCortney | Republican | |
Democratic Floor Leader
|
Kay Floyd | Democratic
|
Judicial
The Judiciary of Oklahoma has six levels. Most cases start in the district courts, which are courts of general jurisdiction. The lowest level courts are the Municipal Courts which exist to oversee the administration of justice within cities and have jurisdiction only over the violation of city ordinances. Appeals from Municipal Courts are heard by District Courts. There are 77 District Courts, with each having either a single or multiple District Judges with at least one Associate District Judge to administer justice. Appeals from the District Courts and challenges to certain governmental decisions are heard by either the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals for civil appeals or the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal appeals. The Court of Civil Appeals has twelve judges who sit in two-judge divisions and the Court of Criminal Appeals has five judges.
Two specialized courts within administrative agencies have been established, the Court of Tax Review hears disputes involving illegal taxes levied by county and city governments, and the Workers’ Compensation Court.
The nine-justice
Within the Oklahoma court system there are two independent courts: the
Federal court cases are heard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma based in Muskogee, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma based in Tulsa, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma based in Oklahoma City. Appeals are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in Denver, Colorado.
Federal representation
Oklahoma's two U.S. Senators, Republicans James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin, are elected at-large, serving since 2015 and 2023, respectively.
Oklahoma is currently represented by five
Oklahoma's 1st congressional district is based in Tulsa and covers the northeastern corner of the state and it borders Kansas to the north. It is represented by Kevin Hern, a Republican.
Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district covers (approximately) the eastern one-fourth of the state, bordering Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, and Texas along the Red River to the south. It is represented by Josh Brecheen, a Republican.
Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district covers western Oklahoma, from the Panhandle to the Tulsa suburbs, and borders New Mexico to the west, Colorado and Kansas to the north, and the Texas panhandle to the south. It is represented by Frank Lucas, a Republican.
Oklahoma's 4th congressional district covers south-central Oklahoma and borders Texas along the Red River to the south. It is represented by Tom Cole, a Republican.
Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, centered in Oklahoma City, covers central Oklahoma and borders all of the other congressional districts except District 1. It is represented by Stephanie Bice, a Republican.
Oklahoma is part of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in the federal judiciary. The district's cases are appealed to the Denver-based United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
See also
- Oklahoma Democratic Party
- Oklahoma Republican Party
- Green Party of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Libertarian Party
- Pirate Party of Oklahoma
- Socialist Party of Oklahoma
- Political party strength in Oklahoma
- Governor of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Legislature
- United States congressional delegations from Oklahoma
- List of United States senators from Oklahoma
- Oklahoma's congressional districts
- List of politics by U.S. state
- Split-ticket voting
- Party switching in the United States
Notes
References
- ^ Leip, David. "Presidential General Election Results Comparison—Oklahoma". US Election Atlas. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- ^ Bruce, Michael L. "Hamlin, Albert Comstock (1881-1912) Archived 2012-11-19 at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. (accessed April 17, 2013)
- ^ a b A Century to Remember Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine (accessed August 9, 2013)
- ^ O'Dell, Larry. Ku Klux Klan Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (accessed August 9, 2013)
- ^ Everett, Dianna. Budget-Balancing Amendment Archived 2012-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed August 9, 2013)
- ^ Scales, James R. and Danny Goble (1982). Oklahoma Politics: A History. University of Oklahoma Press.
- ^ OKGOP "Reddest State" Christmas Card, YouTube (accessed September 3, 2013)
- ^ McGuigan, Patrick B. "Fond dreams come true for Oklahoma Republicans, Democrats wake up to a nightmare," CapitolBeatOK.com. (accessed September 3, 2013)
- ^ a b Article V, Section 26, Oklahoma Constitution (accessed August 9, 2013)
- ^ Article V, Section 25, Oklahoma Constitution (accessed May 27, 2013)
- ^ "House Leadership". okhouse.gov. Oklahoma State Legislature. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "Leadership". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. Retrieved 1 April 2021.