Lively races for open seats in the governor's office and the U.S. House could lead to an uptick in turnout when voters head to the polls Tuesday for primary elections and whittle the field of political hopefuls.
Republican and Democratic voters turned out in significantly higher numbers for primary elections in 1994 and 2002, the last two elections with an open governor's seat, said Paul Ziriax, Oklahoma Election Board secretary.
"When you have an office that's that high profile, it tends to drive turnout up in a primary election," Ziriax said.
Early voting began Friday and Saturday and continues from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at county election boards. Ziriax said early voting was steady and smooth at the Logan County courthouse he visited in Guthrie.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the primary ballots are loaded with local and judicial races, contests for both U.S. and state House and Senate seats, and several statewide races. Five statewide seats currently held by Democrats are all open this election — governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, and state superintendent.
Ziriax said he expects about a half million voters to cast ballots Tuesday, doubting turnout would top the recent non-presidential primary mark of 648,170 in 1994.
Beating that would be "a pretty steep hill to climb," he said. "I'd love to have that many people turn out."
In the race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, Democratic voters will choose between Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, both of whom won statewide in 2006. Republicans will select from U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso, and Oklahoma City businessmen Roger Jackson and Robert Hubbard.
Republicans and Democrats have primary races for U.S. Senate, where incumbent Republican Tom Coburn is the heavy favorite over primary challengers Evelyn Rogers of Tulsa, a perennial candidate, and retired teacher Lewis Kelly Spring of Hugo. In the Democratic primary, newcomer Mark Myles of Oklahoma City will meet Jim Rogers of Midwest City for their party's nomination.
There are primary races for four of Oklahoma's five U.S. House seats. The exception is in the 3rd District, where incumbent Republican Frank Lucas awaits a Nov. 2 general election challenge from Democrat Frankie Robbins.
The most closely watched congressional primary race will be Oklahoma's only open federal seat — the 5th District in Oklahoma City, which Fallin is vacating to run for governor.
Democrats will choose between criminal defense attorney and ex-Marine Billy Coyle and Tom Guild, a retired college professor. Seven candidates are vying for the Republican nomination, including former Christian youth camp director James Lankford, former state Rep. Kevin Calvey, state Reps. Mike Thompson and Shane Jett, businessmen Harry Johnson and Rick Flanigan, and Dr. Johnny Roy.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
