Oklahoma elections: Senate races

Three incumbents kept their seats and primary elections decided the outcome in six races in the Senate. Only one Republican incumbent will face a Democrat challenger in November.

Republican Sen. Anthony Sykes, of Moore, beat his opponent Linda Molsbee with 5,060 votes, or 77 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting, according to the state Election Board.

In Senate District 28, Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, beat Tim Clem by getting 2,898 votes, or 54 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting. Clem received 2,434 votes, or 46 percent of the vote.

Democrat Sen. Connie Johnson held her northeastern Oklahoma City seat and avoided a runoff election by receiving 4,293 votes, or 68 percent of the vote, in a race that included three other opponents.

Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, beat James Lane with 4,213 votes, or 76 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting. Aldridge will face Democrat Mike Kelly in the fall.

In another Oklahoma City district, David Holt, chief of staff to the Oklahoma City mayor, got 5,125 votes, or 64 percent of the vote, in the race to fill the Senate District 30 seat vacated by term-limited Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee. Holt, a Republican, wins the seat since there is not Democrat challenger.

The primary also determined the winner of the Senate District 22 race where Rep. Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher, received 5,214 votes, or 54 percent of the vote, in a field of three candidates to fill his father Sen. Mike Johnson's Senate seat. The elder Johnson is prohibited from running again because of term limits.

Across the state there were several battles among Republican and Democrat candidates seeking their party's nominations to fill seats vacated by term-limited lawmakers and legislators seeking a higher office.

In the Tulsa area, Republican Rick Brinkley beat Tim Coager with 65 percent of the vote to fill the Senate District 34 seat vacated by Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso. Brogdon lost the Republican nomination for governor to U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin on Tuesday.