by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist
Welcome to November’s hefty edition of Capitol Insider. We bring you a bounty of election updates at the state and federal levels, and things to keep an eye on in the food policy realm. The next few months will be filled with lots of changes and transitions, so make sure you’re signed up to get this newsletter in your inbox every month.
In the Oklahoma state legislative races held earlier this November, all three State Senate incumbents on ballots across the state held onto their seats. In the House of Representatives, all 27 incumbents retained their seats. All three open seats in the Senate and five open seats in the House were retained by their current party.
Additionally, Lonnie Paxton was nominated as the Senate President Pro Tempore Designee. The final vote will be during the Senate’s Organizational Day on January 7, 2025. Pro Tempore Designee Paxton will replace the current Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, who is term limited.
All of Oklahoma’s congressional districts except District 3 — in which U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas did not face a general election challenger — were up for election. Although some challengers noted during their campaigns that all five of Oklahoma’s representatives voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, U.S. Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK1), Josh Brecheen (R-OK2), Tom Cole (R-OK4), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK5) were all reelected for their districts by wide margins.
For a more in-depth look at the House and Senate election results, check out these articles from NonDoc and OK Policy.
Incumbent Senate Race Results:
- SD 7: Sen. Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain)
- SD 35: Sen. Jo Anna Dossett (D-Tulsa)
- SD 39: Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa)
Senate Newcomers:
- SD 46 (Oklahoma County): Democrat Mark Mann
- SD 3 (Cherokee, Mayes, and Wagoner counties): Republican Dr. Julie McIntosh
- SD 15(Cleveland County): Republican Lisa Standridge
- SD 21 (Payne and Creek counties): Republican Dr. Randy Grellner
- SD 25 (Tulsa County): Republican Brian Guthrie
- SD 33 (Tulsa and Rogers counties): Republican Christi Gillespie
- SD 37 (Tulsa and Creek counties): Republican Aaron Reinhardt
- SD 43 (Stephens, Grady, Garvin, and McClain counties): Republican Kendal Sacchieri
- SD 47 (Oklahoma County): Republican Kelly Hines
Incumbent House Race Results
- HD 1 (LeFlore and McCurtain counties): Rep. Eddy Dempsey (Republican)
- HD 4 (Cherokee and Wagoner counties): Rep. Bob Ed Culver (Republican)
- HD 16 (Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Tulsa counties): Rep. Scott Fetgatter (Republican)
- HD 26 (Pottawatomie County): Rep. Dell Kerbs (Republican)
- HD 34 (Payne County): Rep. Trish Ranson (Democrat)
- HD 37 (Kay and Osage counties): Rep. Ken Luttrell (Republican)
- HD 38 (Garfield, Grant, Kay, Logan, and Noble counties): Rep. John Pfeiffer (Republican)
- HD 39 (Oklahoma County): Rep. Erick Harris (Republican)
- HD 41 (Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan, and Oklahoma counties): Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader (Republican)
- HD 43 (Canadian County): Rep. Jay Steagall (Republican)
- HD 45 (Cleveland County): Rep. Annie Menz (Democrat)
- HD 46 (Cleveland County): Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (Democrat)
- HD 62 (Comanche County): Rep. Daniel Pae (Republican)
- HD 63 (Comanche, Cotton, Kiowa, and Tillman counties): Rep. Trey Caldwell (Republican)
- HD 64 (Comanche County): Rep. Rande Worthen (Republican)
- HD 66 (Osage and Tulsa counties): Rep. Clay Staires (Republican)
- HD 70 (Tulsa County): Rep. Suzanne Schreiber (Democrat)
- HD 74 (Rogers and Tulsa counties): Rep. Mark Vancuren (Republican)
- HD 79 (Tulsa County): Rep. Melissa Provenzano (Democrat)
- HD 83 (Oklahoma County): Rep. Eric Roberts (Republican)
- HD 84 (Oklahoma County): Rep. Tammy West (Republican)
- HD 85 (Oklahoma County): House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (Democrat)
- HD 86 (Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, and Mayes counties): Rep. David Hardin (Republican)
- HD 87 (Oklahoma County): Rep. Ellyn Hefner (Democrat)
- HD 94 (Oklahoma County): Rep. Andy Fugate (Democrat)
- HD 95 (Cleveland and Oklahoma counties): Rep. Max Wolfley (Republican)
- HD 100 (Oklahoma County): Rep. Marilyn Stark (Republican)
House Newcomers:
- HD 12 (Wagoner County): Republican Mark Chapman
- HD 20 (Cleveland and McClain counties): Republican Jonathan Wilk
- HD 88 (Oklahoma County): Democrat Ellen Pogemiller
- HD 90 (Cleveland and Oklahoma counties): Republican Emily Gise
- HD 98 (Broken Arrow): Republican Gabe Woolley
Federal Policy Updates:
Congress did not pass a Farm Bill by its September 30, 2024 deadline. When Congress returns this month, their focus before the end of the year will be on passing a budget and a Farm Bill extension. The budget needs to be completed or extended again by December 20, 2024. At this time, it is more likely that Congress will push the Farm Bill off to 2025.
SNAP benefit theft has been on the rise nationwide. Until recent Congressional action, stolen benefits would not be replaced. The stolen benefit replacement provision was set to expire September 30, 2024, but was extended in the federal budget extension that goes through December 20. HFO strongly supports a permanent extension of the replacement benefit provision to ensure families can continue to receive the assistance they need. HFO also supports security measures that safeguard EBT cards and users against benefit theft.
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