>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

OKLAHOMA VOTES 2024.

WE'LL BE WITH YOU LIVE RUNNING DOWN THE NATIONAL AND STATE ELECTION RESULTS.

WE HAVE CREWS IN THE FEED AT PARTY HEADQUARTERS.

PLUS A SPECIAL PANEL OF GUESTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

JOINING ME HERE IS POLITICAL REPORTER PAUL MONIES.

PAUL, GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

LET JUMP INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

OBVIOUSLY, OKLAHOMA, A RED STATE, WE EXPECT PRESIDENT TRUMP TO DO WELL HERE AND APPARENTLY THOSE NUMBERS AREN'T COMING UP.

LAST I HEARD, HE HAD 66% OF THE VOTE, ABOUT A 30% OF THE VOTE IS IN.

YOU WANTED TO MENTION ABOUT THE BIGGER COUNTIES AND WHERE KAMALA HARRIS MIGHT DO WELL.

WE HAVE THE NUMBERS, 66% FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND 32 FOR KAMALA HARRIS.

>> THIS IS DEMOCRATS TO CLAIM A COUNTY AND CALLED IT STATE-WIDE FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO TONIGHT IS LOOKING AT LEAST EARLY, LOOKING GOOD IS FAR AND AT LEAST IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, REALLY EARLY, SO ONLY 6% OR 7% IN BUT SHE'S A AHEAD IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

LESS OF A CHANCE FOR CLEVELAND COUNTY AND THEN PROBABLY EVEN LESS THAN TULSA COUNTY BUT LOOKING AT THOSE, AS WELL.

>> AGAIN, OKLAHOMA IN THE TRUMP COLUMN IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL RACE.

LET'S GO THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

LET'S PUT THE RESULTS ON THE AIR AND WE'LL START OFF IN DISTRICT 1.

THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

KEVIN HERN EXPECTED TO TAKE THIS.

INTERESTING GUY.

FAIRLY QUICK RISE UP IN POLITICS AND LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, HE'S HIGH UP IN LEADERSHIP IN THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND A CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN STUDY CLUB FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE HOUSE.

HE'S ALSO KIND OF BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A POSSIBLE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE IN 2026.

>> BAKER DOING BETTER THAN YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

>> STILL EARLY BUT PROBABLY THAN WE EXPECTED, AS WELL.

>> WE'LL GO ON TO DISTRICT 2 AND IF WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IN THAT PARTICULAR RACE AND OBVIOUSLY, HE'S BEEN CALLED THE WINNER IN THIS RACE.

NO GREAT SURPRISE THERE.

AND WE'LL GO ON TO DISTRICT 4, TOM COLE, WE EXPECT, HAS BEEN DECLARED THE WINNER AND NO SURPRISE THERE.

BUT HE'S BEEN AROUND A LONG, LONG TIME.

TALK ABOUT HIS PRESENCE AND WHAT HE BRINGS TO OKLAHOMA AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN D.C. >> TOM COLE HAS A TON OF EXPERIENCE AND ONE OF THE APPROPRIATIONS AND EITHER A CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE AND HAS DIRECTED A LOT OF SPENDING BACK HOME, AS WELL AND WON REELECTION.

>> THIS IS THE ONE RACE IN DISTRICT 5 THAT YOU THOUGHT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT INTERESTING, THE INCUMBENT TRYING FOR A SECOND TERM AFTER BEING A STATE SENATOR IN OKLAHOMA.

SURE ENOUGH, YOU THOUGHT THIS -- 18% OF THE VOTE IS IN.

BUT THAT WOULD BE CLOSER THAN I WOULD THINK YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> THIS COUNTY, THIS DISTRICT WAS MOSTLY OKLAHOMA COUNTY UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THEY CHANGED THEIR LINES AND IT HAS MORE REPUBLICAN WITH THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND A LITTLE MORE RURAL.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, THAT MIGHT SHAKE THING UP, BUT PROBABLY GOING TO VICE PRESIDENT.

>> THAT'S A LONG WAY GO, BUT 43% FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

PAUL, STICK AROUND AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

WE HAVE CREWS STANDING BY AT BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT WATCH POWERS AND STEVE SHAW WITH THE CHAMPION EVENT CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> Steve: GOVERNOR STITT MADE AND APPEARANCE HERE.

HE WAS VERY KIND IN HIS WORDS AND HE SAYS REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, HE SAYS IT'S TIME TO EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH AND TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GET ALONG.

HE SAID PHYSICALLY, THAT IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE TEMPERATURE DOWN IN THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND HE PLEDGES TO TRY TO HELP IN THAT SITUATION.

WITHIN THE LAST 90 MINUTES, I'VE TALKED TO U.S.

CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE AND CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE VICE AND THEY'RE CONFIDENT DONALD TRUMP WILL WIN THE SECOND TERM TONIGHT, BUT LANGFORD TOLD ME IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, OKLAHOMA AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, REGARDLESS WHO WINS THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WE NEED TO TURN THE VOLUME DOWN.

NEED TO TURN THE RHETORIC DOWN AND WE NEED TO ACCEPT WHOEVER WINS THE ELECTION TONIGHT.

STEPHANIE SAYS THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

SHE SAYS RIGHT NOW, A FAMILY IN OKLAHOMA IS PAYING $800 OR MORE A MONTH FOR THE NECESSITIES THAN THEY WERE FOUR YEARS AGO.

I ASKED HER, I SAID, WELL, THE PANDEMIC PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT.

SHE SAYS, NO, THIS IS PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS POLICY.

YOU KNOW, FOLKS IN THE LAST YEAR, SINCE JANUARY, 130,000 MORE PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND MORE THAN 80,000 ARE REPUBLICANS WHICH BODES WELL FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WHEN YOU ASK REPUBLICANS WHAT'S IMPORTANT, THEY WANT TO SEAL THE BORDER AND TOP THE MIGRANTIZATION AND CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION IN U.S. HISTORY, END INFLATION, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL, MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE AND MAKE AMERICA DOMINANT WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT TALKS ABOUT.

LANGFORD ALSO TOLD ME, YEAH, HE WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THE FAILED BORDER BILLS.

THAT WAS HIM.

HE TRIED REALLY HARD.

HE SEEMS TO BELIEVE IF DONALD TRUMP IS ELECTED PRESIDENT, HE BELIEVES DONALD TRUMP, HE'S GOT PEOPLE READY TO MOVE IN AND START DOING WITH THE BORDER, WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO BACK TO YOU.

>> Rich: STEVE MENTIONED TURNING DOWN THE RHETORIC BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO TURN DOWN THE BAND, BUT THEY SOUND GOOD.

AT THE WILL ROGER's THEATER, LET'S SAY HELLO TO TAELYR JACKSON AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WATCHING THE NATIONAL ELECTION RESULTS SAYING THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG, THEY'RE SINGING, DANCING AND HAVING A BLAST OUT HERE.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTION WATCH PARTIES HERE IN THE STATE.

SO WE'RE HERE IN THE CITY AND THEY HAVE ONE IN NORMAND.

SO WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATE TO DATE OF WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE.

BACK TO YOU, RICH.

>> Rich: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT REPORT AND WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

WITH MORE OF THE RESULTS FROM TONIGHT's CONGRESSIONAL RACES AND SOME OF THE OTHER INTERESTING STATE RACES, HOUSE AND STAT RACES, INCLUDING THE TULSA MAYOR's RACE, LET'S GO TO OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT, JASON DOYLE AND HIS GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME HERE ON THE PARTISAN DESK, THERE'S AJ GRIFFIN AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS IS JOE DORMAN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Rich: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ONE STATEWIDE RACE.

WE HAVE THREE CANDIDATES, A LIBERTARIAN, A DEMOCRAT AND WELL-KNOWN REPUBLICAN AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN HAS TAKEN A LEAD PRESIDENT CASE.

AJ.

>> THE SECONDER TIME THAT FORMER PROTEM OF THE SENATE HAS RUN FOR THIS OFFICE AND NOT A SURPRISE HE'S LEADING.

HE RAN A GOOD CAMPAIGN, WELL FINANCED AND WE KNOW CORPORATION COMMISSIONER RACES ARE USUALLY VERY WELL FINANCED, THAT HE RAN A GOOD CAMPAIGN AND FORMER SENATOR BINGMAN WILL PULL THIS OUT EASILY.

>> JOE?

>> BRIAN WITH WIN THIS.

I SERVED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE HE MOVED INTO THE SENATE.

TREMENDOUS DONATIONS.

HE'S A CLOSE ALLY TO KEVIN ST. TITT.

KEVIN STITT.

>> LIBERTARIANS ARE NOT PLAYING SPOILERS CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE RACE SO IT'S SEALED UP THERE.

AS FAR AS STATE QUESTION, THE LEGISLATURE PUT TWO STATE QUESTIONS AND WE TALKED ABOUT STATE QUESTION 833 HERE, WHICH IS KIND OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THEY ARE LOOKING TO ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO ISSUE BONDED FOR DEVELOPMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S SOME THAT ARE AGAINST IT AND ALLOWING US TO CREATE NICE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN OKLAHOMA.

WHEREAS, A FEW BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY.

SO LOOKING AT THE RACE QUICKLY, I SAW RESULTS THERE.

BUT SO FAR, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS GOING DOWN.

SO JOE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE STATE QUESTION OF THE REFERENDUM THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED.

YOU HAVE ONE POSITIVE COMMERCIAL THAT WAS RUN ON TV AND NO EFFORT TO PROMOTE WHAT IT REALLY DID.

WHAT YOU HEARD WAS SEVERAL STATES WERE DOING THIS.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC TOOL.

ANY TIME YOU MENTION TAXES AND THE POSSIBILITY FOR A TAX INCREASE, THE PUBLIC WON'T SUPPORT THAT UNTIL YOU RUN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> THE PLAIN LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT OF THIS PARTICULAR STATE QUESTION, BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF MONEY WAS FAIRLY CONFUSING AND THE VOTERS VERY FREQUENTLY WILL TEND TO KNOW IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> WE'VE KIND OF MADE OR NAME AROUND THE STATE CAPITOL.

INDIVIDUALLY IN OUR OWN WAYS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF INTERESTING RACES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THE INCUMBENT HAS SLID BEHIND AND STATE DISTRICT 64.

HE'S BEHIND JUST A COUPLE OF THEM BEHIND.

WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS SHOWING A STRONG SHOWING IN THIS DISTRICT?

>> THAT'S IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS.

RANDY WAS A FORMER D.A.

AND THE AREA IS WELL-KNOWN BUT TOM SUTHERLAND HAD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.

RANDY FELT HE HAD A SECURE RACE AND HIS OPPONENTS WERE WORKING VERY HARD.

TOM HAS BEEN A WELL-KNOWN PROFESSOR IN THE AREA FOR A WHILE AND I'M NOT SURPRISED IT'S CLOSE.

LOUTEN HAS A HEAVY POPULATION AND PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS CAN BLEED INTO THAT.

>> AJ, WOULD YOU DO THINK THE RESULTS ARE STARTING TO COME OUT THE WAY THEY ARE?

>> IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE PRIMARIES, WE SAW SOME INCUMBENTS GOT KNOCKED OFF, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

IN LOCAL RACES, THAT MATTERS.

PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR YOU IF THEY'VE MET YOU AND IF YOU'VE BEEN ON THEIR DOOR.

IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THE WORK, YOU CAN GET KNOCKED OFF.

EVEN IF YOU'RE SAFE AS AN INCUMBENT?

>> THE RACE TO REPLACE SENATOR PRESIDENT PROTEM GREG TREAT, WHEN KELLY HINES AND BREWER.

THIS HAS BEEN A TIGHTER RACE THAN EXPECTED.

WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> THIS IS THE MOST INTERESTING LEGISLATIVE RACE IN THE WHOLE STATE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO QUALITY CANDIDATES WITH GREAT RESUMES AND BOTH HAVE DONE THE WORK.

AARON BREWER HAS KNOCKED ON ALL OF THE DOORS AND GIVEN HERSELF AN ADVANTAGE IN THE GROUND GAME.

IN A YEAR WHEN HER CAMPAIGN HAS ALIGNED, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WITH RYAN WALTERS, IT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE HEARING THE GOVERNOR SAYING IT'S TIME TO TOTAMPER DOWN THE RHETORIC.

SO VERY INTERESTING TO SEE PROTEM RUN THIS DISTRICT FOR REELECTION WITH GREAT BIG NUMBERS A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE.

THE MOST INTERESTING RACE IN THE WHOLE STATE, I THINK.

>> JOE, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I'LL DISAGREE ON ONE POINT.

THE MOST INTERESTING, WELL-KNOWN RACE.

THERE'S ONE THIS TULSA THAT'S TURNED INTERESTING QUICKLY.

BUT WITH THIS ONE, YOU HAVE MILITARY VETERAN WITH KELLY HINES AND AARON BREWER, A LOCAL BUSINESSWOMAN WELL-KNOWN AND POPULAR IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M NOT SURPRISED.

THIS IS THE MOST PURPLE DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

IT GOING TO BE ONE THAT GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE UNTIL THE VOTES ARE ALL IN.

>> WELL, WE'LL BE BACK TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS RACE.

RICH, IT'S BACK TO YOU.

>> Rich: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I WANTED TO TALK WITH PAUL ABOUT THE OTHER STATE QUESTION, 834.

WE CAN PUT THOSE RESULTS ON THE SCREEN.

THIS WAS INTERESTING TO ME.

THAT QUESTION BASICALLY SAYS YOU MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ISN'T THAT A LAW?

>> IT'S A FEDERAL LAW AND DEOFFENSED IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

IT WAS PUT ON LATE IN THE GAME SO A SURPRISE.

ONE OF ONLY TWO STATE QUESTIONS THIS YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S ONE THAT'S RESONATING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WAY AHEAD.

DON'T EXPECT THAT TO GET MUCH CLOSER WITH THE NO VOTE THERE.

BUT THERE WAS A FEELING FOR VOTING AND THIS WAS NOT NEEDED.

BUT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR WITH IMMIGRATION ON THE BALLOT UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY.

SO THAT WAS ONE THAT THEY KIND OF TRIED TO PUT ON THERE.

IT'S TO INCREASE THE TURNOUT, TOO.

>> WE HAVE THE RED CHECK UP THERE AND THAT'S A BIG YES FROM OKLAHOMA VOTERS.

THE OTHER THING I FOUND INTERESTING, BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH ADVERTISING ABOUT IT, I SAW COMMERCIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE, WAS THE SUPREME COURT, THE THREE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

LET GO THROUGH THOSE RACES A LITTLE BIT.

I'M GOING TO PUT MY GLASSES ON FOR THIS.

THE THREE DEMOCRAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

YOU CAN EITHER VOTE TO REMAIN THEM OR NOT, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS A PETITION SYSTEM AND BASIC, IT'S A YES, NO VOTE ON CURRENT JUSTICES AND APPELLATE JUSTICES.

INTERESTINGLY, THEY ARE APPOINTED BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS AND THE -- IT WAS 1984 AND THEN FORMAL GOVERNOR APPOINTED JAMES EDMONSTON IN 2003 AND GOODRICH IN 2011.

THOSE ARE THE THREE BY HAPPENSTANCE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN ANY CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY FROM THE OUTSIDE.

MORE THAN $3 MILLION IN COUNTING ON THIS RACE FROM INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES FROM VARIOUS GROUPS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S FUNDING THEM.

>> OVERALL, MONEY SPENT IN THIS ELECTION IN TERMS OF ADVERTISING, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A RED STATE AND WE DON'T GET THE BIG DOLLARS WE SEE IN PENNSYLVANIA.

BUT WAS A LOT OF MONEY SPENT?

WAS DARK MONEY AN ISSUE?

>> YES, BOTH TIMES.

BY FAR, THE MOST SURPRISING RACE OF THE ELECTION CYCLING.

THIS IS KIND OF A LIGHT STATE AND THE CORPORATION COMMISSION RACE AND A GOOD TIME TO FOCUS VOTERS ON THE IDEA OF JUDICIAL INTENTION ELECTIONS WHICH HASN'T BEEN DONE IN OKLAHOMA.

SO THIS IS KIND OF, MAYBE, A TEST RACE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS PUSHING THE NO FOLKS DON'T LIKE THAT ANYWAY.

>> Rich: IF THEY WERE VOTED OUT, SO TO SPEAK, THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE THE CHOICE TO PUT FORTH CANDIDATES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

OKLAHOMA HAS THE NOMINATING COMMISSION.

IT'S BIPARTISAN AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION THAT LARGE MEMBERS, AS WELL, HOUSE AND SENATE THAT HAVE POSITIONS ON THERE.

THEY VET CANDIDATES THAT PUT THEIR NAME FORWARD FOR A JUDGESHIP OR SUPREME COURT COURT JUSTICE POSITION AND THEN THE GOVERNOR GETS TO PICK OUT OF THREE NAMES THEY PUT FORWARD.

THEY DO OTHER BETTING AND THE GOVERNOR MAKES THE FINAL PICK.

IF THE THREE DON'T SURVIVE THE RETENTION ELECTION, GOVERNOR STITT WILLING HAVE THREE PICKS TO REPLACE THEM AND GIVE THEM A TOTAL OF SIX PICKS ON THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT OUT OF NINE.

>> Rich: QUICKLY, LET'S LOOK AT THE PRESIDENTIAL NUMBERS.

STATE OF OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN CALLED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY WHERE YOU'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, KAMALA HARRIS HAS A SHOT TO WIN THE COUNTY, WHICH WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

DO WE HAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL NUMBERS, LATEST ONES?

JUST WANT TO SEE THE TALLIES ON HOW MUCH OF THE VOTE IS IN BY NOW.

HARRIS LEADING STILL IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRATS ON THIS ONE AVENUE AND WE'VE KNOWN THAT OKLAHOMA COUNTY HAS BEEN PURPLE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL ELECTION CYCLES FOR IT TO TURN BLUE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WOULD BE BIG FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> Rich: TRUMP IS LEADING IN TULSA AND CLEVELAND.

I CHECKED A MOMENT AGO.

THANKS, PAUL.

LET GO BACK TO THE WILL ROGER's THEATER, THE DEMOCRAT WATCH PARTY AND TAELYR JACKSON HAS A GUEST AND JOINS US NOW.

TAELYR.

>> I'M HERE WITH ALICIA ANDREWS, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> WELL, I'M EXCITED.

I'M OPTIMISTIC.

>> WHAT ARE THE KEY POINTS YOU BELIEVE REALLY RESONATED WITH PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA FROM THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA WERE TIRED OF EXTREMISM AND LISTENING TO SOMEONE WHO HAD A PLAN AND NOT JUST INSULTS AND GRIEVANCES.

>> AS RESULTS ARE COMING IN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

ARE YOU FEELING OPTIMISTIC?

>> I AM FEELING OPTIMISTIC.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT GETTING MAD.

SHE'S NOT GETTING KILLED.

I KNOW OKLAHOMA IS GOING TO TAKE TRUMP, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE BY A LOT LESS PARTISAN.

I KNOW OKLAHOMA IS TRADITIONALLY A CONSERVATIVE STATE.

>> WHAT ARE STRATEGIES AND EFFORTS YOU HAVE DONE TO GET TO THE YOUNG VOTERS?

>> WE KNOCKED OVER A BILLION DOORS AND MADE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALLS AND WE REACHED OUT TO HEAR WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, TO HEAR WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

RICH, I'LL SPEND IT BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> Rich: GREAT INTERVIEW AND THANK YOU.

WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE RUPTS.

RESULTS AND THEY'LL BE UPDATED THROUGH THE 9:00 HOUR.

INTERESTING RACE IN TULSA BETWEEN THE MAYOR's RACE THERE.

TWO DEMOCRATS, AND WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT AND ASK JASON AS I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOUR PANEL.

SO FOR THE DEMOCRATS, WHAT EXACTLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT FOR THEM?

JASON, I'M CURIOUS.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU, JOE, SINCE YOU HAVE RUN A GOVERNOR's RACE, YOU'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING IT AS A DEMOCRAT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT WOULD MAKE A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS IN OKLAHOMA?

>> WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TULSA MAYOR's RACE AND IT'S A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT FOR DEMOCRAT NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE BOTH TWO FINALISTS ARE DEMOCRATS.

I THINK THAT WILL HAVE SOME PLAY IN THE TULSA VOTING.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS OKLAHOMA COUNTY IS LOOKING LIKE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD GO BLUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF THE STATE, IT'S DEEP RED.

YOU HAVE AN URBAN DIVIDE WITH POLITICS AND DEEP-ROOTED ISSUES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN VOTING.

MY 88-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS VOTING AT 7:15 IN THE MORNING AND I GET THE FEELING SHE PROBABLY VOTED FOR THE CANDIDATES I ALSO SUPPORT, BUT SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN THE MINORITY JUST LIKE WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE REST OF THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> AND AJ, HOW DO YOU FEEL -- WHAT WOULD LEAD TO SAYING, HEY, DEMOCRATS HAD A GOOD NIGHT TONIGHT?

>> I WOULD LOOK AT THE BLOCK OF VOTERS THAT ARE REGISTERED AS INDEPENDENTS AND SAY THAT'S THE FASTEST GROWING BLOCK OF VOTERS IN OKLAHOMA ARE INDEPENDENTLY REGISTERED VOTERS.

IF DEMOCRATS HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, THEY ATTRACTED MORE INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN THEIR DIRECTION IN LEGISLATIVE RACES AND DOWN-BALLOT RACES.

IF THEY HAVE ANY SURPRISE WINS, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE, OBVIOUSLY IN THE DOWN BALLOT RACES.

IT'S ABOUT WHO RAN THE BEST CAMPAIGN FOR A PARTICULAR OFFICE.

>> WELL, A LOT WAS SAID ABOUT THE RUNUP TO THE ELECTION AND WE SAW LONG LINES.

WHAT DETERMINES A GOOD TURNOUT?

WE'RE SEEING HIGHER NUMBERS IN OKLAHOMA BUT OKLAHOMA HASN'T HAD A HISTORICAL PRESIDENT OF TURNING UP A VOTE.

>> IF YOU CONSIDER 50 GOOD, THEN WE'RE DOING FINE, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING FINE.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST VOTER TURN TURNOUTRATE IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WE'RE AN OUTLIER AND WE HAVE VERY BAD VOTER TURNOUT BUT 86% OF THE RACES WERE DECIDED BEFORE THIS EVENING.

WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT WHAT MATTERS IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, THEY WERE DECIDED.

>> JOE, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

WE'RE SEEING SOLID NUMBERS FOR OKLAHOMA, BUT LIKE AJ SAID WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER STATES, WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM.

>> WE HAVE 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND WE EASILY SHOULD HAVE UP TO 3 MILLION REGISTERED TO VOTE IN OKLAHOMA AND TURNOUT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE 1.2.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT 55%, MAYBE, WHO SHOW UP TO VOTE WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTERED JOB.

THE OKLAHOMA ACADEMY DID A TOWN HALL AT LOOKING AT POLITICAL POLARIZATION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HEALING TO DO AND WE'VE HEARD SEVERAL CANDIDATES TALKING ABOUT THE HEALING, THAT NEEDS TO START TONIGHT.

WE NEED OFFICIALS WHO WERE ELECTED AT THE CAPITOL TO BE THE ONES THAT DO THAT AND TO TAMP DOWN THEIR RHETORIC AND START WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE.

THAT GOES FOR BOTH PARTIES.

>> I KNOW WE'VE TEASED IT BETWEEN OUR DESK AND RICH's DESK.

THE TULSA MAYOR's RACE, IF WE COULD SEE WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE RISK.

TWO DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR A NON-PARTISAN SEAT AND MONROE NICKELS HAS TAKEN THE LEAD SO FAR WITH 2% OF THE DISTRICT's REPORTING.

AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN TULSA AND WHAT RACE IS THIS BREAKING DOWN TO BE FOR TULSA AND SELECTING THE SUCCESSOR TO BYNUM?

>> THE RACES ALL ACROSS THE STATE ARE NON-PARTISAN.

WE USUALLY KNOW THE PARTY AFFILIATION OF THE CANDIDATES.

THESE ARE TWO WELL-KNOWN POLITICS IN OKLAHOMA.

POLITICIANS IN OKLAHOMA AND IT'S TALKING POINTS NOT ON PARTY AFFILIATIONS.

IT'S A REFERENDUM ON WHAT THEY WANT THE FUTURE OF TULSA TO LOOK LIKE WHICH IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN THEY'RE NOT JUST VOTING RED OR BLUE.

IT'S AN INTERESTING RACE.

>> YOUR REFLECTIONS ON THE TULSA RACE?

>> IT GOT NASTY.

YOU OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE NASTINESS BETWEEN TWO PARTIES AND THIS GOT UGLY BETWEEN TWO DEMOCRATS.

YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE BOTH FINE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

MONROE NICKELS, A FANTASTIC MANNER AND WORKED FOR FORMER MAYOR CATHY TAYLOR.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WELL TOGETHER IF HE WINS AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE'LL WIN.

BUT TO HER PART, KAREN KEITH HAS BEEN A GREAT COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

BOTH ARE EVENT PUBLIC SERVANTS AND COULDN'T GO WRONG EITHER WAY.

>> TULSA HAS A FORTUNE OF WEALTH THERE WITH THE CANDIDATES.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S SWITCH BACK TO RICH AND PAUL.

>> Rich: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ONE QUESTION ABOUT THAT TULSA MAYOR's RACE.

ONLY 2% IN AND NICKELS DOING WELL.

IT'S A MOOT POINT, BUT THE G.O.P CANDIDATE, THESE ARE BOTH DEMOCRATS, THE G.O.P CANDIDATE, BEN NORNAND, GOT IN LATE.

IF HE HAD GOTTEN IN EARLY, DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN WHO WOUND UP IN THIS RACE TONIGHT?

>> IT WAS A RACE, A PRIMARY AND THEY WERE ALL AROUND 30 SOMETHING PERCENT BEFORE IT WENT DOWN AND SO, YEAH, EITHER WAY, IF HE GOT IN EARLIER, IT MAY HAVE CHANGED IT.

SO THE INTERESTING PART IN TULSA IS SEEING MAYBE WHERE SOME OF HIS VOTERS WENT OR IF THEY STAYED HOME OR DIDN'T GO INTO THAT RACE.

>> Rich: WHO WILL GET HIS VOTE, HIS PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE?

IT'S VERY EARLY, 2% AND MONROE NICKELS DOING VERY, VERY WELL.

THERE'S AN ELECTION TONIGHT AND YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF THIS, ABOUT WHO HAS THE BETTER TIE, OK?

I'VE GOT FLAMINGOS, BUT I DON'T KNOW, JOE HAS ALFRED E. NEWMAN .WE'LL KEEP ON THAT.

THAT'S GOOD STUFF, JOE.

[LAUGHTER] >> LET'S GO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES AND SERIOUS BUSINESS AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE AGAIN.

WE DON'T EXPECT TOO MANY SURPRISES.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

36% OF THE PRECINCTS KEVIN HERN WITH A LEAD AND BAKER IN THAT PARTICULAR RACE AND LOOKING THROUGH NOW FOR -- THIS IS VERY, VERY SOLID AND WAS THAT EXPECTED, THESE CANDIDATES, PERHAPS, WEREN'T AS STRONG AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN?

>> DEFINITELY JOSH IS KIND OF PART OF THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS IN CONGRESS.

AND SO HE'S STRONG IN THAT AREA.

OF COURSE, THIS USED TO BE A VERY STRONG DEMOCRATIC AREA OF THE STATE.

THAT'S FLIPPED IN THE LAST 20 OR SO YEARS.

VERY REPUBLICAN AND IT'S IN THE BAG THERE.

>> Rich: THIS IS DISTRICT 4 AND THE VETERAN TOM COLE EXPECTED AND WILL BE RETURNING TO CONGRESS FOR IS THAT A 12th TERM FOR HIM?

HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 2003?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK ONLY FRANK LUCAS IN THE THIRD DISTRICT IS LONGER SERVING IN CONGRESS FOR OKLAHOMA AND HE DIDN'T HAVE A GENERAL LENGTHS EN AND NOT ON THE BALLOT TODAY.

>> Rich: IT'S INTERESTING TO HAVE YOUNG BLOOD AND NEW BLOOD IN TERMS OF WHO REPRESENTS US IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE CASE OF STEPHANIE, SHE'S GOING FOR HER SECOND TERM.

BUT, OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S THE NEW GUARD AS OPPOSED TO LUCAS AND CO COLE.

>> SHE RAN IN 2020 AND WON AND IN A CLOSE RACE AND UPSET THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, KENDRA HORN, AND THAT WAS A SURPRISING RACE AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY CHANGED THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND MADE IT MORE REPUBLICAN HEAVY WITH EXTRA COUNTIES.

AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING MORE WITH THAT AND OBVIOUSLY LOOKS LIKE STEPHANIE IS PULLING AWAY NOW, TOO.

>> Rich: WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH OUR COVERAGE AND ANYTHING YOU'RE SEEING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT YOU SAY, THAT CAUGHT MY EYE?

>> IF WE COULD GO BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS.

THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, VERY, VERY CLOSE AND TWO-THIRD OF THE COUNTIES HAVE REPORTED STATE-WIDE SO FAR AND LOOKS TO BE MORE RAZOR THIN THAN I EXPECTED.

THE TWO RACES IN THE 60% RETENTION SIDE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE THEM BLANK BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT JUDGES EITHER.

SO THIS WILL BE INTERESTING TOWARD THE END OF THE NIGHT, THAT CLOSE AT THE END.

OR IF IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL PULL AWAY AND SEE MORE OF THE VOTES ARE URBAN AREAS.

>> Rich: CLEARLY PEOPLE SAW THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS SAYING WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THESE THREE OR KEEP THESE THREE AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY ARE RETAINED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU'LL SEE ON BOTH SIDE, YOU'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GROUPS JUMP IN ON EACH SIDE AND ONE OF THE FIRST GROUPS THAT CAME THIS WAS MORE AFFILIATED WITH SOME FOLKS WITH OKLAHOMA COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

OTHER GROUPS WITH AFFILIATION WITH GOVERNOR STITT ON THE OPPOSITION SIDE.

IN THE TV ADS, LOCAL CELEBRITIES AND PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT AND SAY WE NEED TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE ON THE COURT.

>> Rich: VERY GOOD.

SO RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE'RE STANDING BY AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM STEVE SHAW IN A WHILE AND WE'RE SETTING HIM UP RIGHT NOW.

LET CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER STATE RACES.

>> THE SUMMER, ON THE SENATE SIDE, THE PROTEM COURTNEY, WAS DECIDED TO BE THE NEW PROTEM AND LOST TO ANOTHER REPUBLICAN AND SO THAT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE ACROSS THE CAPITOL AND KEVIN WALLACE AND HOUSE APPROPRIATION's CHAIR WAS IN A TIGHT RACE.

LOST HIS RUNOFF, AS WELL, AND YOU HAVE NEW BLOOD IN THAT DISTRICT.

OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT THE FORMER SPEAKER -- STILL CURRENT SPEAKER CHARLES MCCAUL.

AND C AL HILBERT AND HE'S THE DESIGNATE AND HE WOULD BE THE YOUNGEST HOUSE SPEAKER IN HISTORY IF HE GETS THAT ELECTION AGAIN FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> Rich: A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE GOING AWAY.

THE NEXT SESSION, A LOT OF NEW BLOOD AND A LOT OF NEW LEADERSHIP AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US.

PAUL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OK, STEVE SHAW HAS BEEN WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THEIR WATCH PARTY AND AT THE CHAMPION EVENT CENTER.

IF WE CAN, I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK WITH STEVE AND FIND OUT WHAT THE MOOD IS THERE.

IS STEVE WITH US?

TAKE IT AWAY, STEVE.

>> Steve: WE'RE HEAR WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

STAN, HOW ARE THINGS LOOK SOMETHING.

>> WE'RE GLAD TO SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP RUNNING AHEAD AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S STILL EARLY AND BIG STATES STILL TO COME IN, BUT WE LIKE THE TREND.

WE'VE RUN EXTREMELY WELL AT HOME IN THE STATE.

NOT SURPRISINGLY THAT REPUBLICANS ARE DOING WELL IN OKLAHOMA.

BUT IT LOOKS GOOD FOR OUR STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE SEATS AND SO FAR, WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE EVENING.

>> THE CONGRESSWOMAN SAID SOMETHING TO ME 30 MINUTES AGO.

SHE SAID RIGHT NOW, FAMILIES IN OKLAHOMA ARE PAYING 800 MORE FOR NECESSITIES THAN FOUR YEARS AGO.

THAT'S A POWERFUL THING TO SAY.

>> WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INFLATION AND THEY'LL GIVE US NUMBERS, 25%, 30% AND I CAN SHOW YOU ITEMS IN MY GROCERY CHART THAT ARE 300% HIGHER.

SO IT VARIES ACROSS THE BOARD BUT CERTAINLY, I THINK WE'VE ALL FELT THE EFFECTS OF SKYROCKETED INFLATION OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

I'VE BEEN AROUND QUITE A WHILE IN THIS BUSINESS, LATE '70s AND I WAS STILL YOUNG AND IN COLLEGE THEN, BUT WE SAW VERY HIGH INFLATION, VERY HIGH INTEREST RATES.

AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.

SO YOU THINK FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING A BIT WITH THE INCREASE, WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT UP.

>> WE FELT THIS IS THE MOST DEVICIVE ELECTION IN 40 YEARS AND THE GOVERNOR SAID WE NEED TO DIAL IT DOWN.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND I HOPE EVERYONE TAKES THAT ATTITUDE AND WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE IN-ROADS COMING BACK TOGETHER, HEALING THE COUNTRY AFTER TONIGHT MOVING FORWARD IN A MORE UNIFIED FASHION.

I THINK IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DO.

THERE WOULD BE A GOOD PORTION OF THE COUNTRY UNHAPPY REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, BUT WE HAVE TO GET FOCUSED ON THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.

, OUR NATIONAL ADVERSARIES.

WE'RE ALL AMERICANS, IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE HAVE DIFFERENCES, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMON GROUND AND COMMON HISTORY.

>> STAN, THANKS A LOT.

RICH, BACK TO YOU.

>> Rich: STEVE SHAW, THANK YOU.

LET GO BACK OVER TO JASON WHO HAS A NEW GUEST ON THE DESK.

>> JOINING US NOW TO REPRESENT THE DEMOCRATS IS MY FRIEND, SCOTT HAMILTON AND SCOTT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> ALSO ON THE DESK REPRESENTING REPUBLICANS WITH US IS AJ GRIFFIN AND THANK YOU.

>> YOU LET ME STICK AROUND.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO SCOTT, AS YOU JOIN US, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS SO FAR FOR THE NIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO THE OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WHAT THEY'RE SHOWING TONIGHT?

>> WELL, OBVIOUS, IT'S VERY EARLY, BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING, ITHINK IS THE RESULT OF CAMPAIGN THAT HAD GOOD, STRONG GROUND EFFORTS.

THAT'S BEEN THE GOAL OF THE PARTY FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M THRILLED WITH SOME THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PUT TOGETHER JUST TERRIFIC GROUND GAMES THIS YEAR.

I THINK THAT WILL SHOW IN THE RESULTS TONIGHT WHETHER IT'S WIN OR LOSE, WE'RE CLOSE THAN IN THE PAST LARGELY BECAUSE OF THAT.

NO BIG SURPRISES AT THIS JUNCTURE.

>> WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE TOO MUCH CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE MAKEUP.

THE SUPER MAJORITY WILL GO FORWARD TO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD DO AND HOW CAN THEY USE IT TO EFFECTIVELY GOVERN FOR ALL PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA?

>> IT'S TIME TO TURN THE PAGE.

THE SUPER MAJORITIES ARE SAFE IN BOTH CHAMBERS, BUT WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE SENATE PROTEM AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WILL BE NEW.

SO NEW LEADERSHIP AND A TIME TO RESET SOME THINGS, TAMPER DOWN THE RHETORIC.

WE'VE HEARD THAT AND WASN'T WHAT WE'RE HEARING AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET, BUT BEGINNING TONIGHT, WE'LL BEGIN TO HEAR ALL OF THE CANDIDATES REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING CHANGE THE RHETORIC TO WE'RE ALL AMERICANS, TIME TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND TIME IN OKLAHOMA, AS WELL, PERFECT TIME FOR A RESET WITH NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE SPEAKER's RACE IS CONSIDERED MORE OVER BUT LEANING IN ONE DIRECTION AND INTERESTING TO SEE ON ORGANIZATIONAL DAY EXACTLY HOW THAT GOES.

BECAUSE THOSE TWO POSITIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THEY SET THE TONE FOR THE WORK THAT HAPPENS AND THEY SET THE TONE FOR THE PARTY IN OKLAHOMA, WHAT THE RECENTLY PARTY WILL PRIORITIZE MOVING FORWARD.

>> AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE STATE-WIDE RACE RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION's COMMISSION.

BUT SCOTT, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S TURNING OUT?

IS THIS TURNING OUT AS EXPECTED WITH BEAMAN TAKING THE LEAD?

>> YES, BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXTREMELY WELL-FUNDED CAMPAIGN.

AJ, YOU MENTIONED THAT EARLIER WITH CORPORATION COMMISSION.

I WILL SAY THAT I THINK ALL OF US ARE GOING TO MISS BOB ANTHONY.

I'M HOPEFUL WITH THE CHANGES THAT WE'LL SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO RECRAFT WHAT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION LOOKS LIKE.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES JUST BUILT INTO THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS THE RESULTS TONIGHT, NO BIG SURPRISE AT THIS POINT.

>> AJ, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THOUGHTS?

>> I SERVED WITH BRIAN BINGHAM, ONE THE FINEST LEADERS I'VE EVERY HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH.

HE'S A FINE MAN AND APPROACH THE JOB IN THE DATA-DRIVEN TEMPER AND I PREDICT SHE SERVES FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> WELL, LET'S MOVE ON TO STATE QUESTION.

STATE QUESTION 834 IS DOING SOMETHING THAT KIND OF TWEAKS OR LAW AND PUTS SOMETHING IN OUR CONSTITUTION WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING RIGHTS AND WHO CAN VOTE IN OKLAHOMA AND WHO CAN'T?

SO, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S OVERWHELMINGLY WINNING AND BEEN APPROVED AND SO, AJ, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM?

>> THIS IS ELECTION YEAR AND THIS WAS SUPER MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND BENEFITS THEM AT THE BALLOT BOX AND APPEALS TO THAT REPUBLICAN BASE.

IT'S REALLY INCONSEQUENTIAL AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE NEEDS TO LOSE SLEEP OVER THAT QUESTION.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT IN THE COUNTRY.

AND FOR US TO NOW BE RIGHT AGAIN TO OUR CONSTITUTION, ANOTHER PROHIBITION AGAINST VOTING.

IT'S TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

FRANKLY, AS FAR AS TAKING QUESTIONS GO, I WISH THAT TODAY WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON MINIMUM WAGE N. INCREASE.

THAT WOULD AFFECT PEOPLE MUCH MORE THAN THAT QUESTION.

OBVIOUSLY IT WAS TIMED PERFECTLY FOR OKLAHOMA, BUT IT WAS UNNECESSARY AND I THINK THAT, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, BEGINNING TO CROSS THE AISLE AND WORK TOGETHER AND TAMP DOWN ON SOME OF THE RHETORIC THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING, THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HELP THAT.

IT JUST INCREASES THE ANXIETY WITHIN OUR POPULATION.

I'M SORRY THAT IT WAS THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NO SURPRISE WITH THOSE NUMBERS.

>> THE ELECTION PROCESS IN THE STATE OKLAHOMA IS ONE OF THE MOST SECURE AND WE HAVE A VERY SECURE -- WE HAVE A VERY CONFIDENT PROCESS.

LEGISLATURE DOES A GOOD JOB OVERSEEING THAT IN STATUTE AND WE HAVE EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ELECTION BOARD AND I HOPE WE'RE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE RESULTS.

IN OUR STATE, WE WON'T BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM.

>> DEFINITELY.

LET'S MOVE OVER TO SOMETHING WE HAVE YET TO TALK ABOUT IS THE RETENTION OF THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ADS THAT CAME OUT.

A PUSH TO KIND OF TIP THE BALANCE.

RIGHT NOW, THE SUPREME COURT AS IT STANDS IS 5-4 REPUBLICAN AND WASN'T THAT THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT GOT PUSHED.

SO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A SUDDEN PUSH ON A RACE, AJ, THAT NORMALLY THAT'S KIND OF, WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL.

IT BECAME AN ISSUE IN THIS RACE FOR 2024?

>> JUDICIAL RETENTION ELECTIONS ARE CHALLENGING FOR VOTERS BECAUSE THERE ARE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM AND DIFFICULT TO REALLY BE SUPER INFORMED ON THE RETENTION OF THE JUDGES, ESPECIALLY NOW, WE'VE GOT A RACE WITH A LOT OF MONEY PUSHED INTOT INTO.

THESE ARE THREE THAT NEVER SERVED AND HAS BECOME A PARTISAN ISSUE.

PARTISAN ISSUES CAN BUBBLE UP AND IT MAKES SENSE IN A SUPER MAJORITY STATE WHERE WE HOLD THE BALANCE OF POWER WHERE THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TIP THE TIDE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, THE POWERS WILL BE THAT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

I KNOW NUMBERS IN THE URBAN AREAS HAVEN'T COME IN YET.

THE CAMPAIGNS THEMSELVES WERE INTERESTING.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE JOB OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE IS AND HOW THE CAMPAIGN, VERY RARELY DOES THE CAMPAIGN AND ACTUAL JOB, DO THEY MEET.

SO I'M JUST WATCHING, WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE VOTERS SAY.

>> SO MUCH MORE TO TALK TO, BUT RIGHT NOW, LET GO BACK TO RICH AND PAUL.

>> Rich: WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ELECTION RESULTS ON THIS VERY ISSUE FROM THE STATE REPORTING OR FROM STATE NUMBERS AND THESE ARE CLOSE.

TAKE US THROUGH THIS QUICKLY HERE IN TERMS OF WHO WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

>> SO SUPREME COURT DISTRICT 3 IS VERY CLOSE STILL, ABOUT 80% OF THE PRECINCTS REPORTING, NARROWLY TO THE NO SIDE.

AND THEN DISTRICT 4 IS ACTUALLY ALSO IN THE SAME, 51 NO SO FAR WITH 80% OF THE PRECINCT GOING.

AND THEN DOWN IN DISTRICT 7 IS JAMES EDMONSON AND HE'S ACTUALLY NARROWLY ON THE YES SIDE TO RETAIN, BUT AS AJ SAID, 20% LEFT, A LOT IN URBAN AREAS AND THOSE FOLKS ARE INCLINED TO KEEP IT.

>> Rich: TIGHT NUMBERS AND RARE NOT TO BE RETAINED AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

WE WANT TO HEAD TO THE DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS WHERE TAELYR JACKSON IS STANDING BY AND TAELYR, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US?

>> Reporter: IT'S STILL GOING STRONG AND WE HAD RESULTS FOR NEW YORK AND THE ENTIRE CROWD WENT WILD.

I'LL STEP OUT SO YOU CAN SEAT SEE THECROWD.

SOME ARE DANCING AND HAVING A GREAT TIME.

AND I KNOW THE RESULTS RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THEM SAY AREN'T EXACTLY WHERE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN WILL PULL THIS OUT.

>> Rich: THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND STEVE SHAW AT THE G.O.P WATCH PARTY, THE CHAMPION EVENT CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WHAT'S THE LATEST THERE?

>> Steve: THIS IS MORE SUBDUED HERE THAN TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE COVERED THE REPUBLICAN WATCH PARTY TWO YEARS AGO.

IT'S A LOT MORE SUBDUED THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

FOLKS HERE ARE OPTIMISTIC.

WE MAY NOT TUNE OUT UNTIL TODAY OR TOMORROW.

THERE WERE 130,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.

(INAUDIBLE).

>> IF YOU TALK TO REPUBLICANS ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THIS ELECTION, THEY'LL SAY SEAL THE BORDER, STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION, CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION IN U.S. HISTORY, END INFLATION AND MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE AND MAKE AMERICA THE DOMINANT ENERGY PRODUCER OF THE WORLD AND CUT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ANY SCHOOL PUSHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR RADICAL AGENDA IDEOLOGY.

TALKING TO GOVERNOR STITT, I SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DIALING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE OF EDUCATION?

HE SAID WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THAT.

SO RICH, WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> Rich: STEVE, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION YOU ASK AND INTERESTING ANSWER.

LET'S BRING IN PAUL MONIES BACK WITH THE OKLAHOMA WATCH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR.

OBVIOUSLY, HOME FACE A LOT OF NEW FACES AND DOES THAT PUT HIM IN THE CAT BIRD SEAT?

IS HE A LAME DUCK?

>> THE GOVERNOR RAN AS A BUSINESSMAN TO BRING A BUSINESSMAN's EYE TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

HE IS NOW A POLITICIAN, OBVIOUSLY.

AND SO HE IS NOW THE SECOND HALF OF HIS SECOND TERM AND, OF COURSE, AS SOON AS THIS LENGTHSN IS OVER, THE STARTING GUNS GO FOR THE 2026 GUBERNATORIAL RACE AND GOVERNOR STITT CAN BE DEALING WITH NEW FACES IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP AND BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN AROUND A WHILE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE AND PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS IN THE ROOM.

>> Rich: IF WE CAN GO TO THE NUMBERS ON THE TULSA MAYOR's RACE, WE HAVEN'T CHECKED IN.

LAST TIME, THERE WAS 2% REPORTING.

OBVIOUS, JOE DORMAN SAID THIS IN THE FIRST HALF HOURS, DEMOCRATS WILL BE HAPPY TONIGHT, RIGHT?

AND WE HAVE TWO DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES AND 27% AND I THINK FOR SOME PEOPLE, THOSE RESULTS ARE A LITTLE BIT SURPRISING.

>> THAT'S HIGHER FROM BOTH OF THE DEMOCRATS.

GOES BACK TO OUR EARLIER POINT WHO IS COMING OUT.

THESE ARE NON-PARTISAN RACES WITH A LOT OF IDEAS AND CANTANKEROUS AT TIMES AND WE'RE A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH IN TULSA COUNTY FOR THE TULSA MAYORAL RACE.

IT LOOKS LIKE NICKELS IS UP BY ABOUT 17 POINTS RIGHT NOW.

OF COURSER, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL HOLD OR WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

>> Rich: WHOEVER WINS WILL BE PLACED BY A POPULAR MAYOR.

OK, LET GO BACK OVER TO JASON AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT AND READY TO TALK ABOUT.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

A LOOK AT A COUPLE OF STATE SENATE RACES WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT GOT TIGHT AND LOOSENING UP IN SENATE DISTRICT 39 BETWEEN DAVE RAIDER AND CHALLENGER MELISSA BRICE.

RIGHT NOW RAIDER TAKING THE LEAD WITH BRICE TAKING IN 47%.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RACE AND WHY IT WAS SO TIGHT.

AJ, WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE?

>> THIS IS ONE THAT TIGHTENED UP AT THE END.

THEY'RE IN TULSA, AND HEAD COACH OF THE GOAL HURRICANES AND POPULAR AND TIGHTENED UP A LITTLE BIT.

BIT.LOOKED LIKE SENATOR RAIDER L PULL THAT OUT AND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND IN INCOMING LEADERS WILL LIKE TO SEE HIM RETURN.

>> Steve: IS THIS THE CASE THAT WE'RE SEEING, MAYBE OF THE PURPLE IN THAT TULSA AREA?

>> I THINK IT IS AND I BELIEVE THE NUMBERS TONIGHT FOR MONROE ARE INDICATIVE OF CHANGE THERE BECAUSE HE'S MORE PROGRESSIVE.

BUT, YES, THE PROXIMITY TO AN URBAN AREA IN OKLAHOMA, I BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE AREAS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS WE'LL SEE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT IT GOT TIGHT AND NOW IT'S LOOSENING UP.

I WOULDN'T BE ADVISED IF IT GETS TIGHTER AS THE NIGHT GOES ON BECAUSE ANYWHERE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SHOT OF MAKING CHANGE, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING.

THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN GETTING DEMOCRATS TO RUN IN VERY STRONG RECENTLY STRONGHOLDS.

WHY AM I GOING TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR A RACE THAT I KNOW I'M GOING TO LOSE?

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL LOOK AT LATER ON, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THOSE WHO HAVE TOSSED THEIR HATS IN HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

SOMEONE WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAVE OTHER IDEAS AND THE PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO THAT.

>> Rich: STAND BY.

>> Steve: WE HAVE MORE, BUT LET'S GO BACK TO RICH.

>> Rich: I EVERY LEARN.

WE'RE GETTING JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME AND A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.

IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD WIN AND NOT HISTORIC FOR KAMALA HARRIS TO WIN.

>> YOU WOULD SEE THAT WOULD BE A BIG GAME FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO HAVE THAT ONE THING IN THEIR CAP.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY IS A THIRD OF THE POPULATION IN THE STATE.

>> Rich: EARLY VOLTING WAS CERTAINLY STRONG AND WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IS THAT A GOOD SIGN?

WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY GOT OUT EARLY.

>> 300,000 DID EARLY VOTING WHICH WAS DOUBLE IN 2020, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC MIXED UP AND DOUBLE 2016.

WE'RE SEEING PARTY SWITCHING IN INTERMS OF WHO IS WILLING TO GET OUT.

REPUBLICANS IN THE PAST WERE SEEING MAYBE SOME OF THAT PUSH TO KIND OF GET MORE OF THE PEOPLE IN LINE, NOT GET SO MUCH OF THE CROWD ON ELECTION DAY.

>> Rich: LET THROW UP ASMANY RESULTS AS WE CAN.

PAUL, NOT A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF SURPRISES AS PERHAPS LOOKING AT THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

THE INCUMBENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE, WILL BE GOING BACK IN OFFICE.

STEPHANIE SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AND EVERYONE ELSE STROLLING BACK INTO OFFICE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT AND WITH THIS PRESIDENT, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKING ABOUT 67% IN OKLAHOMA, COATTAILS AND FOLKS DOING A STRAIGHT PARTY TICKET.

THE LAST FEW CYCLES WE'VE GONE UP AND REPUBLICANS ARE IN TUNE WITH THAT, ABOUT 67% THE LAST FEW ELECTION CYCLES STRAIGHT PARTY TICKET VOTING AND THAT HELPS, TOO.

>> Rich: INTERESTING THAT ROBERT KENNEDY, JR. IS ON THE BALLOT AND I KNOW HE DIDN'T DO A LOT BUT THAT WAS AN ISSUE IN SEVERAL STATES HE WANTED TO COME OFF THE BALLOT AND THEY KEPT HIM ON THE BALLOT.

>> IN SOME OF THE SWING STATES, MAYBE POSSIBLY DEMOCRATIC AND HE WANTED TO GET OFF THE BALLOT.

OF COURSE, HE ENDORSED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BACK IN THE SUMMER.

SO NOW IT'S MAYBE AN ALBATROSS.

>> Rich: WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

A GREAT EVENING WITH THE RESULTS THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA.

I WANT TO THANK A LOT OF FOLKS.

STEVE SHAW AND TAELYR JACKSON AT THE PARTY HEADQUARTERS.

JASON?

>> THANK YOU, AJ GRIFFIN AND JOE, THANK YOU SO PUP FOR YOUR R INSIGHT ON OKLAHOMA VOTES 2024.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Rich: JASON, GREAT JOB FOR US, AS WELL.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR TUNING IN.

IT'S GOING TO AND LONG TIME NATIONALLY AND HOPE YOU'RE READY TO STAY UP.

THANKS FOR WATCHING HAVING A GREAT NIGHT!

APP