Oklahoma voters backed Republicans in a number of statewide races Tuesday night with conservatives winning the seat for attorney general, treasurer and all three of the commissioner titles.
Former state lawmaker Jon Echols will serve as the state’s next AG after garnering slightly more than 56% of the vote against federal prosecutor Nick Coffey, the Democratic candidate.
The attorney general represents the state in litigation and helps protect consumers against fraud. This seat was open after Gentner Drummond, who first took office in 2023, chose to run for governor and not seek reelection.
Cindy Byrd, the long-time conservative state auditor, won the treasurer’s race. She pulled about 76% of the vote, defeating Libertarian political outsider Kiefer Perry.
The treasurer serves as the state’s chief financial officer and banker. The office manages unclaimed property, disability savings programs and the Oklahoma 529 college savings program. The treasurer also sits on 11 state boards.
Republican lawmaker Kevin West won state labor commissioner against Democratic candidate Kevin Dawson and Libertarian candidate Mike Hall. He won about 57% of the vote.
West, an Oklahoma House Representative for District 54 whose term ends this year, authored a bill this year to change what’s considered gender transition procedure, The Oklahoman reported. The Department of Labor enforces worker protections, workplace safety, licensing and compliance.
Republican Bob Sullivan defeated Democratic candidate Craig MacIntyre in the race for state insurance commissioner with 60% of the vote. Sullivan is now tasked with regulating Oklahoma’s insurance industry,
Oklahoma has some of the highest auto and home insurance premiums in the country. On the campaign trail, Sullivan said he had a plan to lower them. The Oklahoma Insurance Department doesn’t directly decide what you pay, but it does make sure rates are legal and competitive. That’s up for debate as the department is wrapped up in a legal case.
The same day the state’s Corporation Commission delayed a vote on a Public Service Company of Oklahoma rate case, voters backed Republican lawmaker Brad Boles to fill an open seat. He won 59% of the vote against Democratic candidate Rhonda Eastman.
Corporation commissioners are elected to regulate public utilities like PSO and Oklahoma Gas & Electric. As Republican commissioner Todd Hiett’s term phases out, Boles steps in for the next six years. He authored the Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act, which makes large-load customers, like data centers, pay for their share of electricity costs.
Read more on the Tulsa Flyer for information on what else happened down the ballot.
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