Oklahoma Elections: Parties look at open Senate seats for advantage

All incumbents on Tuesday's ballot won their primary races, leaving only a small number of November contests.

Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, joins four other incumbent senators with November elections.

The race for the Republican nomination in Senate District 44 is the only senate seat with a primary runoff. The seat was held by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, who announced she wouldn't seek another term.

Tuesday's primary election decided the outcome in six Senate seats, with five going to Republicans and one to a Democrat. Eight incumbents retained their seats by not drawing an opponent or by their opponents dropping out.

Now campaign organizers from both parties look to November and are working to woo voters. Republicans are looking to pick up seats in districts that have been held by longtime Democrats forced out of office by 12-year term limits. Democratic organizers are reminding voters to support candidates who will work to solve problems within state government, not use the Legislature as a megaphone for larger political discussions.