Blake "Cowboy" Stephens goes to runoff, other incumbents defend seats

Emmet Jamieson, Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
·3 min read

Jun. 20—Though most Rogers County incumbents held onto their seats in Tuesday's primary elections, Sen. Blake "Cowboy" Stephens will face challenger Julie McIntosh in an August runoff election.

Julie Dermody, secretary of the Rogers County Election Board, said races in Oklahoma advance to a runoff if no candidate secures 50% plus one of the votes cast. Stephens got 38.08% of the vote, and challenger McIntosh trailed just behind with 37.42%.

The other candidate, Patrick Sampson, got a little under a quarter of the vote and will not advance to the Aug. 27 runoff.

Dermody said people may vote in the runoff in person at a polling location, which can be found at okvoterportal.okelections.us/. Early voting at the election board office, 415 W. First St. in Claremore, will be open Aug. 22 and 23 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To vote by mail, make a request on the Oklahoma State Election Board website on or before Aug. 12. The county election board must receive the ballot by 7 p.m. on election night.

Several candidates effectively won their seats Tuesday because they have no Democratic or Independent challenger in the Nov. 5 general election.

Sen. Julie Daniels, a Bartlesville Republican whose district includes northern Rogers County except for Chelsea, fended off challenger Wendi Stearman with 54.97% of the vote to Stearman's 45.03%.

Daniels said she was grateful to the voters who chose her for a final four years in the Oklahoma Senate and said she planned to spend a "whole lot more time" in Rogers County.

"It's the best job in the world, and I'm honored to continue to get to do it," Daniels said.

She said her priorities for next session include cutting taxes and reforming the state pension system to ensure the pension fund doesn't dip too low.

Jeanne M. Heidlage got 59.39% of the vote for Rogers County Clerk, keeping her seat over Kathy McLaughlin.

"I'm very grateful to the those the voters of Rogers County for the opportunity to serve a third time to complete projects and make sure things are done correctly," Heidlage said.

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, an Adair Republican whose district includes the Chelsea area, was re-elected over challenger Houston Brittain.

Republican Derrick R. Hildebrant will represent Catoosa and Verdigris as state representative, defeating Connor Whitham with 71.93% of the vote.

Other primary winners will face challengers in November.

Owasso and Catoosa voters will decide among Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Tulsa, Democrat Dennis Baker and Independent Mark Sanders to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Voters in the rest of Rogers County will pick their U.S. Representative among Rep. Josh Breechen, R-Coalgate, Democrat Brandon Wade and Independent Ronnie Hopkins.

Republicans selected Brian Bingman as their candidate for Corporation Commissioner. His opponents are Democrat Harold Spradling and Independent Chad Williams.

According to Oklahoma Voice, the Corporation Commission is a three-person body that regulates the state's public utilities and faced scrutiny in 2021 during Winter Storm Uri for "its handling of debt securitization." Natural gas prices shot up 40,000% during that time.

The ballot also had one proposition from Verdigris that passed with about two-thirds of the vote. Voters approved a $3.6 million package that will be used to purchase fire equipment.