By Constitution Staff

With the November 4 General Elections completed, Republicans remain in control of both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature. Republicans held on to their 72-29 majority in the House. While Democrats took one seat in the lower chamber from the Republicans, that was offset with the GOP pickup of the seat vacated by Democrat gubernatorial candidate Joe Dorman. In the state Senate, Republicans ended the 2014 elections with a net gain of four. Republicans will begin the next session with a 40-8 advantage in the upper chamber.

For seats that more than one Republican filed, or more than one Democrat filed, those candidates of the respective parties competed in the June 24 Primary Election. If there were two candidates for the party nomination, the winner became the nominee of the respective party. If there were three or more candidates in the party Primary Election, and no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates squared off in the Runoff Primary Election which was held on August 26. The final contest for the remaining races was in the General Election which will be held November 4.

A number of legislators were not able to run for reelection as a result of term-limits. Legislators are limited to a total combined service in the House and/or Senate of 12 years. Term-limited Representatives included: Don Armes (R-Faxon), Gus Blackwell (R-Laverne), Dale DeWitt (R-Braman), Joe Dorman (D-Rush Springs), Rebecca Hamilton (D-Oklahoma City), Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City), and John Trebilcock (R-Broken Arrow). Term-limited Senators were: Cliff Aldridge (R-Choctaw), Cliff Branan (R-Oklahoma City), Harry Coates (R-Seminole), and Jerry Ellis (D-Valliant).

Some of the term-limited legislators filed for other offices. Rep. Dorman was the Democrat candidate for Governor. Sen. Branan ran in the Republican Primary for the open seat on the Corporation Commission which was vacated by Patrice Douglas who ran for the open seat in the Fifth Congressional District vacated by Congressman James Lankford who won the Republican nomination and the election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Dr. Tom Coburn. Douglas lost her bid to succeed Lankford in the August 26 Runoff Election. Branan lost in the Primary Election to former House Speaker Todd Hiett who won the Corporation Commission seat since they were the only candidates to file.

A number of other legislators decided simply not to run for reelection, including several in leadership positions. Rep. Mike Jackson (R-Enid) lost the race to replace Rep. T.W. Shannon as House Speaker and did not file for reelection to the House. Senator Sean Burrage (D-Claremore), the Senate Minority Leader, decided to call it quits, along with Senator Roger Ballenger (D-Okmulgee), the Assistant Minority Floor Leader. Senator Rob Johnson (R-Kingfisher), the Senate Majority Assistant Floor Leader also decided not to run again. Others choosing not to run included Rep. Larry Glenn (D-Miami), Rep. Arthur Hulbert (R-Fort Gibson), Rep. Steve Martin (R-Bartlesville), Rep. Skye McNiel (R-Bristow), and Rep. Colby Schwartz (R-Yukon).

Other legislators sought another office rather than run for reelection. Rep. Marty Quinn (R-Claremore) filed for the open Senate District 46 seat vacated by Sen. Burrrage and won the seat without opposition. That was the first of four gains in the Senater for the GOP. Rep. Fred Jordan (R-Jenks) ran for District Attorney in Tulsa County, but lost in the Runoff Primary. Sen. Tom Ivester (D-Sayre) was the Democrat nominee for District Attorney in District 2, but lost that race. Former Speaker of the House, Rep. T.W. Shannon (R-Lawton), ran for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Coburn, but lost in the Primary Election to Congressman Lankford. Sen. Constance Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) was the Democrat nominee for the Coburn seat, but lost to Lankford. Rep. Anastasia Pittman (D-Oklahoma City) won the seat vacated by Sen. Constance Johnson. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond) ran for the Fifth District seat vacated by Congressman Lankford, but lost in the Republican Primary Election. Sen. Al McAffrey (D-Oklahoma City) was the Democrat nominee for Lankford's seat, but lost in the General Election. Rep. Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City) won the the seat that Sen. McAffrey vacated. Rep. Jason Smalley (R-Stroud ) won the open seat vacated by Sen. Coates. Rep. Curtis McDaniel (D-Smithville) was the Democrat nominee to fill the seat of Sen. Ellis, but lost in the November election.

Republicans made significant gains in the state Senate. The GOP began the election year with a 36-12 majority in the 48 member chamber. Senators serve four-year terms, with half of the seats up each election cycle. The odd numbered districts will not be on the ballot until 2016. The exception is Senate District 5 which was held by Sen. Jerry Ellis who could not serve the remaining two years of his four-year term because of the 12-year legislative term limits. Ellis was first elected to the Senate seat in 2008 after serving six years in the House. The Special Elections to fill the remaining two years of Ellis' term were held on the same dates as the regularly scheduled elections. Republicans hold 19 of the odd numbered seats not on the ballot in 2014, with Democrats holding only 4.

The twenty-four even numbered districts were up for election in 2014. Seventeen of those were held by Republicans, and seven by Democrats. Fifteen incumbents filed for reelection, including 13 Republicans and just two Democrats. Including the Special Election for Sen. Ellis's seat, there were 25 seats to be filled. Seven Republicans were elected because they had no opposition. Two more Republicans, Sen. Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) and A.J. Griffin (R-Guthrie), won the Republican nomination in the Primary Elections and were reelected because no Democrats nor Independents ran. A third seat was also filled by Republicans in the August Runoff Primary with Stephanie Bice of Edmond becoming the new Senator for the seat vacated by Rob Johnson.

Meanwhile, only two Democrats, Randy Bass (D-Lawton) and John Sparks (D-Norman), were elected without opposition. Senate Democrats held the seat vacated by Sen. McAffrey since only Democrats filed and Rep. Kay Floyd won in the Primary Election. Republicans came out on top in the races which remained to be settled in the General Election. Five GOP incumbents were reelected and Republicans held on to three other seats. Jack Fry kept the seat vacated by Sen. Aldridge. Rep. Jason Smalley (R-Stroud ) won the open seat vacated by Sen. Coates. And, Ervin Yen held the seat vacated by Sen. Cliff Branan. And, Republicans also took three seats held by Democrats. Republican Joe Silk took the seat left open by Sen. Ellis. Republican candidate Roger Thompson took the seat vacated by Sen. Ballenger. Republican candidate Darcy Jech won the seat formerly held by Sen. Tom Ivester.

All 101 House seats were up for election each two-year election cycle. Republicans held a 72-29 majority in the House. Eighty incumbents filed for reelection to the House -- 58 Republicans and 22 Democrats. Because they drew no opponents, 50 members of the House were automatically elected. Rep. Jeff Hickman (R-Fairview), the current Speaker of the House, was among the 35 Republicans. Rep. Scott Inman (D-Oklahoma City), who the House Democrat (Minority) Leader, were among the 15 Democrats.

Twelve Republicans and three Democrats were elected in the Primary Elections, since they had no opposition in the General Election. Seven Republican incumbents won election in the June 24 Primary Election including Gary Banz of Midwest City, Josh Cockroft of Tecumseh, John Enns of Enid, Mark McBride of Moore, Jason Murphey of Guthrie, Weldon Watson of Tulsa, and Paul Wesselhoft of Moore. Also, the former state Rep. Kevin Calvey of Oklahoma City returned to the Legislature winning the seat vacated by Rep. Turner. Michael Rogers of Broken Arrow won the GOP nomination and fills the seat being vacated by Rep. Trebilcock. Democrat Ben Loring of Miami won the nomination and the seat being vacated by Rep. Glenn.

Republicans took three seats in the August 26 Runoff Primary. John Pfeiffer of Mulhall won the Runoff Primary and is the new representative replacing Rep. DeWitt. Casey Murdock (R-Felt) won the seat being vacated by Rep. Blackwell. And, Chuck Strohm of Jenks replaces Rep. Jordan.

Democrats retained the seat of Rep. Hamilton with the election of Shane Stone of Oklahoma City. Democrats also kept the seat of Kay Floyd in the Runoff Primary with the election of Jason Dunnington of Oklahoma City.

There were 36 seats at stake in the General Election, including one that only a Republican and an Independent were running. Fourteen Republican and eight Democrat incumbents were reelected. Republicans also held on to ten seats vacated by Republicans and Democrats retained two. One seat was retained with the return of former representative George Faught who was elected to his old seat after leaving two years ago to run for congress. John Montgomery of Lawton kept the seat vacated by T.W. Shannon.

Democrat Claudia Griffith defeated Republican incumbent Aron Stiles of Norman. This was the only incumbent to be defeated in 2014. However, the loss was offset with the GOP pickup of the seat vacated by Democrat gubernatorial candidate Joe Dorman with the election of Scooter Park of Devol.

The following candidates were elected to the Senate because they had no opponents:

Randy Bass (D-Lawton)

Rick Brinkley (R-Owasso)

Bill Brown (R-Broken Arrow)

Marty Quinn (R-Claremore)

Eddie Fields (R-Wynona )

David Holt (R-Oklahoma City)

Mike Schulz (R-Altus)

John Sparks (D-Norman)

Anthony Sykes (R-Moore)

The following candidates were elected to the Senate in the June 24 Primary Election:

Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa)

Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City)

A.J. Griffin (R-Guthrie)

The following candidate was elected to the Senate in the August 26 Runoff Primary Election:

Stephanie Bice (R-Edmond)

The following candidates were elected to the Senate in the November 4 General Election:

Mark Allen (R-Spiro)

Josh Brecheen (R-Coalgate)

Kim David (R-Wagoner)

Jack Fry (R-Midwest City)

Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher)

Anastasia Pittman (D-Oklahoma City)

Frank Simpson (R-Springer)

Roger Thompson (R-Okemah)

Ralph Shortey (R-Oklahoma City)

Joe Silk (R-Broken Bow)

Jason Smalley (R-Stroud)

Ervin Yen (R-Oklahoma City)

The following candidates were elected to the House because they had no opponents:

John Bennett (R-Sallisaw)

Scott Biggs (R-Chickasha)

Lisa Billy (R-Lindsay)

Mike Brown (D-Fort Gibson)

Ed Cannaday (D-Porum)

Donnie Conduit (D-McAlester)

Ann Coody (R-Lawton)

Marian Cooksey (R-Edmond)

Doug Cox (R-Grove)

Lee Denney (R-Cushing)

David Derby (R-Owasso)

Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City)

Dan Fisher (R-El Reno)

Randy Grau (R-Edmond)

Katie Henke (R-Tulsa)

Jeff Hickman (R-Fairview)

Scott Inman (D-Oklahoma City)

Dennis Johnson (R-Duncan)

Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City)

Dan Kirby (R-Tulsa)

Steve Kouplen (D-Beggs)

Mark Lepak (R-Claremore)

Kevin Matthews (D-Tulsa)

Charles McCall (R-Atoka)

Mark McCallough (R-Sapulpa)

Jeannie McDaniel (D-Tulsa)

Jerry McPeak (D-Warner)

Richard Morrissette (D-Oklahoma City)

Glen Mulready (R-Tulsa)

Jadine Nollan (R-Sand Springs)

Terry O'Donnell (R-Catoosa)

Charles Ortega (R-Altus)

Leslie Osborn (R-Mustang)

Pat Ownbey (R-Ardmore)

Pam Peterson (R-Tulsa)

Eric Proctor (D-Tulsa)

R.C. Pruett (D-Antlers)

Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow)

Dustin Roberts (R-Durant)

Todd Russ (R-Cordell)

Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher)

Seneca Scott (D-Tulsa)

Earl Sears (R-Bartlesville)

Ben Sherrer (D-Chouteau)

Todd Thomsen (R-Ada)

Steve Vaughan (R-Ponca City)

Emily Virgin (D-Norman)

Ken Walker (D-Tulsa)

Cory Williams (D-Stillwater)

Harold Wright (R-Weatherford)

The following candidates were elected to the House in the June 24 Primary Election:

Gary Banz (R-Midwest City)

Kevin Calvey (R-Oklahoma City)

Josh Cockroft (R-Tecumseh)

John Enns (R-Enid)

Ben Loring (D-Miami)

Mark McBride (R-Moore)

Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie)

Michael Rogers (R-Broken Arrow)

Weldon Watson (R-Tulsa)

Paul Wesselhoft (R-Moore)

The following candidates were elected to the House in the August 26 Runoff Primary Election:

Jason Dunnington (D-Oklahoma City)

Casey Murdock (R-Felt)

John Pfeiffer (R-Mulhall

Shane Stone (D-Oklahoma City)

Chuck Strohm (R-Jenks)

The following candidates were elected to the House in the November 4 General Election:

David Brumbaugh (R-Broken Arrow)

Chad Caldwell (R-Enid)

Dennis Casey (R-Morrison)

Mike Christian (R-Oklahoma City)

Bobby Cleveland (R-Slaughterville)

Jeff Coody (R-Grandfield)

David Dank (R-Oklahoma City)

Travis Dunlap (R-Bartlesville)

George Faught (R-Muskogee)

Will Fourkiller (D-Stilwell)

Claudia Griffith (D-Norman)

Elise Hall (R-Oklahoma City)

Tommy Hardin (R-Madill)

Chuck Hoskin (D-Vinita)

John Jordan (R-Yukon)

Charlie Joyner (R-Midwest City)

Chris Kannady (R-Oklahoma City)

James Leewright (R-Bristow)

James Lockhart (D-Heavener)

Scott Martin (R-Norman)

Randy McDaniel (R-Edmond)

John Montgomery (R-Lawton)

Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia)

Jason Nelson (R-Oklahoma City)

Tom Newell (R-Seminole)

Scooter Park (R-Devol)

David Perryman (D-Chickasha)

Brian Renegar (D-McAlester)

Sean Roberts (R-Hominy)

Wade Rousselot (D-Wagoner)

Mike Shelton (D-Oklahoma City)

Jerry Shoemake (D-Morris)

Johnny Tadlock (D-Idabel)

Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston)

Justin Wood (R-Shawnee)

George Young (D-Oklahoma City)