Congressman Kevin Hern secured the Republican nomination for Oklahoma's open U.S. Senate seat in Tuesday's primary, positioning him as the heavy favorite in the conservative state. The seat was previously held by Markwayne Mullin, who became Homeland Security Secretary.
Hern's victory sets up a general election contest where the GOP nominee typically enjoys significant advantages in Oklahoma, which has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1990. The primary served as the de facto selection for the state's next senator.
Meanwhile, the race to succeed outgoing Republican Governor Kevin Stitt remains unresolved. No candidate cleared the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, forcing a head-to-head contest between the top two vote-getters.
The governor's runoff will determine who leads a state that has seen steady Republican control under Stitt. The eventual nominee will face a Democrat in November, though the GOP is expected to retain the governorship.
Some local analysts note that voter turnout in primary runoffs typically falls, which could shift the dynamics in the governor's race.