Four of Oklahoma’s five sitting members of the U.S. House earned major victories in Tuesday’s election, returning two of them to important positions on House energy-related committees. The returning Representatives are Republican and the upset win by Republican Stephanie Bice over Democrat Rep. Kendra Horn returns Oklahoma’s congressional delegation to an all-Republican group.
First District Rep. Kevin Hern in Tulsa beat Democrat challenger Kojo Asamoa-Caesar by a nearly two-to-one margin, picking up 213,251 votes to Caesar’s 109,455. Hern received nearly 64% of the votes.
It was Rep. Hern’s first re-election win after being chosen in 2018 to replace former congressman Jim Bridenstine following his appointment as NASA Administrator. Rep. Hern sits on the House Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on the Budget.
Republican Markwayne Mullin who represents the 2nd District in eastern Oklahoma received 75% of the votes cast in his election. It was a walk-away win for Mullin as he received 216,234 votes while Democrat challenger Danyell Lanier received 63,403 votes.
Congressman Mullin, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation and one of only four Native American members of the 116th Congress was elected to the House in 2013 after succeeding Democrat Dan Boren.
One of his key assignments is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which oversees the Departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, Commerce and Transportation. He is also a member of the Chemistry, Coal, Chicken and Natural Gas caucuses and many others.
Republican Rep. Frank Lucas who represents most of western and northern Oklahoma in the 3rd district received more than 78% of the votes. He received 242,392 while Democrat challenger Zoe Midyett had 66,430 votes.
Lucas has served as the 3rd district Representative since 2003 and previously represented the 6th district from 1994 to 2003. He is also the ranking minority member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He is a long-standing member of the House Ag Committee which he once chaired and also sits on the House Finance Committee.
In the 4th congressional district covering central, south central and southwestern Oklahoma. Republican Rep. Tom Cole had 68% of the votes. He received 212,830 votes while Democrat Mary Brannon had 90,350 votes.
Cole was elected to the House in 2002 and is the Deputy Minority Whip. He is a member of the Chickasaw Native American tribe and in the 115th U.S. Congress is a member of the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget and the ranking member of the Committee on Rules.
