Early Voting Begins In Oklahoma
Monday is the last day for early voting in an Oklahoma primary election featuring races for governor, lieutenant governor and Congress.
Early voting began Monday at 8 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. at county election boards. On Tuesday, polls open for the primary election at 7 a.m. in the state's 77 counties and close at 7 p.m.
Michael Clingman, state Election Board chairman, predicted a light-to-moderate turnout of between 600,000 and 700,000 of Oklahoma's roughly 2 million voters.
Clingman said voting should be heaviest in the 5th Congressional District, which Republican Ernest Istook is giving up to run for governor.
Istook said last week he would win the GOP primary for governor without a runoff against three other candidates.
Democratic incumbent Brad Henry was in a no-contest primary with Andrew Marr Jr., who got less than 5 percent of the vote last year as a Republican.
Six Republicans vied for their party's nomination in the 5th District, advertising heavily on television to stress their conservative stands on illegal immigration and other issues.
The candidates are Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, state Reps. Kevin Calvey and Fred Morgan and Johnny B. Roy, an Edmond doctor.
Istook, 56, began running a television ad last week that targeted Henry but did not mention Istook's three GOP foes — Tulsa businessman Bob Sullivan, state Sen. James Williamson and retired engineer Jim Evanoff.
Sullivan, 60, said he could land a runoff spot because polls show a large number of undecided voters.
Istook made a loan to his campaign on Tuesday for the first time after spending more than $900,000 on advertising and other expenses. He had about $68,000 left in his campaign fund on July 10.
Sullivan loaned his campaign another $100,000 on July 14 after spending more than $1 million in his bid.
A runoff was considered a virtual certainty in the 5th District Republican race.
Running for the Democratic nomination were Dr. David Hunter and Bert Smith, a teacher and Vietnam combat veteran.
Republican John Sullivan in the 1st Congressional District was the only congressional incumbent facing primary opposition. He was favored over perennial candidate Evelyn L. Rogers and political newcomer Fran Moghaddam.
The Republican primary campaign for lieutenant governor produced a bitter fight between House Speaker Todd Hiett of Kellyville and state Sen. Scott Pruitt of Broken Arrow.
The two candidates accused each other in commercials of everything from shaking down lobbyists for contributions to being chronically absent from the Legislature. Sen. Nancy Riley, R-Tulsa, ran a low-key campaign for the GOP nomination.
Four Democrats are seeking the job Fallin is leaving after three terms. They are former congressional aide Pete Regan of Afton, state Sen. Cal Hobson of Lexington, House Democratic leader Jari Askins of Duncan and Jim Rogers of Midwest City.
Many believe the winner of the lieutenant governor's race could determine which party controls the Senate next year. Democrats hold a 25-23 edge, but are losing seven senators to term limits while Republicans are losing none.
If Republicans picked up one of those seats in normally Democratic areas there would be a 24-24 split in the 48-member Senate, meaning the next lieutenant governor would hold the balance of power.
Republicans captured the House two years ago for the first time in eight decades, but have never held a majority in the Senate.
Democrats are predicting they will win back some of the House seats they lost in 2004.
Tulsa businessman Howard Barnett was in a battle for the GOP nomination for state treasurer with Daniel Keating, twin brother of former Gov. Frank Keating. Barnett was Frank Keating's chief of staff.