Oklahoma to have first female governor

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins (D - Oklahoma) and Rep. Mary Fallin (R - 5th District, Oklahoma)

In a race that is bound to draw headlines and much national attention, Oklahoma is now all but guaranteed to have a female governor for the first time in it’s young history as a state. The reason: Republicans and Democrats both nominated women to lead the top of their tickets in today’s primary election.

On the Republican side, Rep. Mary Fallin (R – 5th District, Oklahoma), a former lieutenant governor, easily defeated State Sen. Randy Brogdon (R – Owasso, Oklahoma) to win the GOP nomination.

The Democrats didn’t nominate their leader so easily. In late results, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins (D – Oklahoma) and Attorney General Drew Edmondson have a little over 2,000 votes separating them. Edmondson has conceded the race, even though votes are still coming in from eight rural precincts.

This race, along with the governor’s race in neighboring New Mexico, represent only the third and fourth times in the history of the United States that women have lead the tickets of both major parties, guaranteeing a female governor.

With a chance to make history with two history-making candidates, this will be the election to watch. Fallin, the state’s first female lieutenant governor, and Askins, the state’s first Democratic female lieutenant governor, will no doubt make this an interesting and historic campaign.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Center for American Women and Politics: Woman vs. Woman Fact Sheet
NewsOK: Oklahoma elections: Edmondson concedes to Askins in tight race; Fallin gets GOP nod
Politics Daily: Denish vs. Martinez for New Mexico Governor: A Rare 2-Woman Race