By Constitution Staff

While Republicans were disappointed with the General Election results at the national level, the results in Oklahoma were much more pleasing. Even in the presidential race, Oklahoma voters maintained their status as the "Reddest State" with Mitt Romney carrying every county over President Obama. Romney received 67 percent of the vote in Oklahoma.

In addition to losing the highest office in the land, the GOP also suffered losses in Congress. In the U.S. Senate, Republicans lost two seats, dropping their numbers to 45 seats with the Democrats holding 53 seats. The remaining two seats (Maine and Vermont) in the 100-member body are held by independents. Republicans lost eight seats in the House, reducing their majority to 234 against 201 Democrats.

Congress

Oklahoma Republicans bucked the national trend, picking up the open seat of Congressman Dan Boren, the only Democrat in the state congressional delegation. The Second District seat was won by Markwayne Mullin with 57 percent of the vote. He defeated the Democrat nominee, Rob Wallace, who received 38 percent. Independent candidate Michael G. Fulks, received 4 percent.

The district covers 26 counties in eastern Oklahoma, stretching south from the Kansas state line to the Red River border with Texas. After the 2010 census and minor redistricting, the district remains the most Democratic in the state by registration. In redistricting, some Republican parts of Rogers County were added, but Democrat-leaning parts of Marshall County were also inserted.

Mullin, 34, of Westville, took over the family plumbing business, Mullin Plumbing, 15 years ago with six employees and has expanded it into one of the largest service companies in Oklahoma with more than 100 employees. He also owns Mullin Environmental, Mullin Services and Mullin Properties along with ranching operations in Adair and Wagoner counties. Mullin is known across a good portion of the district because of his business ads and his employees who travel the state in red vans. Mullin also hosted a Saturday morning radio program, House Talk, on conservative Talk Radio 1170 KFAQ in Tulsa.

In Oklahoma's First District, centered in the Tulsa area, Jim Bridenstine kept the seat in Republican hands getting 63 percent of the vote against Democrat John Olson who received 32 percent. Independent candidate Craig Allen received 4 percent.

Bridenstine, a Tea Party backed political newcomer, defeated incumbent Congressman John Sullivan in the Republican primary election. Sullivan became the first Oklahoma congressman to be defeated in 18 years. Sullivan came to Congress in the 2002 special election to replace Steve Largent, who resigned to run for governor. The last time a sitting congressman lost in Oklahoma was in 1994 when the late 2nd District Congressman Mike Synar lost in the Democratic primary.

Bridenstine, 36, of Tulsa was a Navy combat pilot and flew missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and resigned from the museum in 2010 to concentrate on his career in the Naval Reserve.

In the Third District, Republican Congressman Frank Lucas of Cheyenne was reelected with 75 percent of the vote against Democrat Timothy Ray Murray, who received 20 percent. Independent candidate William M. Sanders received 5 percent. Lucas, 52, was first elected to Congress in a Special Election in 1994. His opposition to the federal TARP bailout in 2008 -- he was the only member of the U.S. House from Oklahoma to oppose it -- reinforced his support from conservatives.

In the Fourth District, Republican Congressman Tom Cole won with 68 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Donna Marie Bebo who received 28 percent. Independent candidate R.J. Harris received 4 percent. Cole, 62, of Moore was first elected to Congress in 2002.

In the Fifth District, Republican James Lankford of Edmond won a second term with 59 percent of the vote against Democrat Tom Guild who got 37 percent. Two Independent candidates were also on the November ballot for the central Oklahoma district. Robert T. Murphy received 2 percent and Pat Martin also received 2 percent.

Oklahoma Legislature

Republicans made advancements in the Oklahoma Legislature as well. After the 2010 elections, Republicans held 70 seats in the 101-member state House, but a death and two vacancies put the tally at 67-31 at the end of last year's session. Oklahoma House Republicans reached a new high following the 2012 elections, picking up two seats, giving them a 72-29 majority.

Because they drew no opponents, 52 members of the House -- 33 Republicans and 19 Democrats -- were automatically elected at the end of filing. Thirteen Republicans and two Democrats were elected as a result of the Primary Elections, since they had no opposition in the General Election. In the general election, all 16 Republican incumbents and the seven Democrat incumbents were reelected. And, Republicans won nine of the 11open seats on the ballot.

One disappointment for Republicans was the loss of the House District 56 seat which had been held by Rep. Phil Richardson (R-Minco) who could not seek reelection due to 12-year term limits. Democrat David Perryman of Chickasha took the seat in a close race. But, Republicans took two traditionally Democratic seats -- House District 32 which was held by former Minority Leader Danny Morgan (D-Prague), and House District 22 held by Rep. Wes Hilliard (D-Sulphur). Morgan and Hilliard did not seek reelection. Republican Jason Smalley of Stroud won the House District 32 post. Atoka Mayor Charles McCall of Sulphur took the seat for the Republicans in District 22.

The GOP made a bigger advance in the state Senate. Republicans had ended the last legislative session with a 32-16 majority in the 48-member chamber. The new lineup in the Senate is 36 Republicans to 12 Democrats, a net gain of four seats.

Senators serve four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election each election cycle. The twenty-four even numbered districts will not be on the ballot until 2014. Republicans hold 17 of those seats, with Democrats holding the other seven. The twenty-four odd numbered districts were up for election in 2012. Fifteen of those were held by Republicans, and nine by Democrats.

Seven Republicans were automatically elected at the end of the office filing period because they had no opposition. Four more Republicans were elected in the Primary Elections, because no Democrats nor independents ran. Meanwhile, only one Democrat was elected without opposition when in July, the lone Republican withdrew from the General Election leaving the seat to the current senator, Sen. Charles Wyrick (D-Fairland).

Ron Sharp, 59, of Shawnee was the winner of the GOP Runoff in Senate District 17, which includes parts of Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties. The seat was held by Sen. Charlie Laster (D-Shawnee) who chose not to seek reelection. Republicans also gained the Senate District 33 located in Tulsa County where incumbent Sen. Tom Adelson (D-Tulsa) did not seek reelection and no Democrats nor independents filed for the seat. Nathan Dahm, 29, of Broken Arrow won the Runoff. Dahm ran for Congress in the First District in 2010 election.

In the General Election, Republicans gained two other seats held by Democrats. Larry Boggs, a Republican from Wilburton, claimed the Senate District 7 seat in Haskell, Latimer, and Pittsburg counties. Wayne Shaw, a Republican from Grove, beat a Democrat for the District 3 seat previously held by Sen. Jim Wilson (D-Tahlequah), who could not run again.

Republicans have come a long way in Oklahoma.