Oklahoma special election victory for GOP

October 15, 11:39 PMOklahoma City Nonpartisan ExaminerMichael Ricksecker

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Oklahoma City (Creative Commons, taken by Soonerfever)

If this season’s special elections are any indicator as to how Americans are feeling about their represented voice these days, then long-time Democrats may have something to worry about in 2010. In Oklahoma, Todd Russ defeated Larry Peck to pick up a State House seat that hasn’t been held by a Republican since 1965. Likewise, Republican Pat Marsh defeated Democrat Ty Cobb to pick up a Tennessee House seat that’s never controlled by a Republican and gives the GOP the opportunity to pick their first Tennessee Speaker of the House in 40 years.

The Oklahoma House District 55 seat became vacant when incumbent Ryan McMullen resigned in July to take a federal position. Russ secured 55.9 percent of the vote in a district that covers Washita County and parts of Caddo, Canadian, and Kiowa counties and contains double the number of registered Democrats to Republicans. However, only 31.5 percent of registered voters took part in the special election, and a number of seated House members campaigned for Russ. The victory gives Oklahoma Republicans their highest representation ever in the state at 62 seats.

Todd Russ is a former banker who now consults for banks and small businesses and is a member of the Cordell City Council. He will resign from his city council post and will be sworn in either at the end of this week of the beginning of next.

In Tennessee, Democrat Ty Cobb attempted to win the District 62 seat that had been held by his brother Curt who had stepped down to take a different government position. He was defeated handily by Pat Marsh by a 15 percent spread, 56 to 41.

While the 2010 elections are still more than a year away, this is still an ominous sign. Most notably, recent polling shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is 7-10 points behind his Republican challengers for his seat in Nevada.

  For more info: GOP increases its hold on state House votes and Special election victories for GOP