Election Board Certifies Election, Tosses Request For OK-02 Special Election
Board declines to hold special election in Oklahoma 2nd Congressional District
by Rick Green
No new election is needed in a Nov. 4 congressional race featuring a landslide victory by the Republican incumbent two days after his Democratic challenger died in a car wreck, the Oklahoma Election Board decided Wednesday.
Relying on advice from the Oklahoma attorney general’s office, the board voted 3-0 to certify the results of this and all general election contests, with the exception of a judge’s race in which a recount is to be held.
Election board member Diana Spurlock initially favored a new election in the 2nd Congressional District, which is represented by Markwayne Mullin, of Westville.
“State statutes do provide for special elections and in fairness to the voters of Oklahoma and to do the right thing, I think we need a special election,” Spurlock said before reversing course and voting to certify the results.
The Oklahoma Democratic Party has called for a special election in the district, which covers most of rural eastern Oklahoma. Wallace Collins, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said the party would consider a lawsuit to challenge the board’s decision.