Oklahoma

The history of the two major political groups in Oklahoma, the Democratic and Republican parties, dates back to 1890, when Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were separately organized. Indian Territory was dominated by Democrats, reflecting the influence of southern immigrants, while Oklahoma Territory was primarily Republican because of immigration from the northern states. When the two territories joined for admission to the Union in 1907, Democrats outnumbered Republicans, as they have ever since. Democrats have continued to dominate the lesser state offices, but the Republicans won the governorship three times between 1962 and 1990, and the Republican presidential nominee out-polled his Democratic counterpart in ten of twelve presidential elections between 1948 and 1992. The best showing by a minor party in a recent presidential race was 25% garnered by Independent Ross Perot in 1992.

Oklahomans cast 60% of their popular vote for Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election, and 38% for Al Gore. In 2002 there were 2,008,036 registered voters. In 1998, 57% of registered voters were Democratic, 35% Republican, and 8% unaffiliated or members of other parties. The state had eight electoral votes in the 2000 presidential election.

Democrat Brad Henry was elected governor in 2002. Republican Senator James Inhofe, first elected in a special election in 1994, was reelected to full terms in 1996 and 2002. Republican Senator Don Nickles, first elected in 1980, was reelected in 1998 to a fourth term. In 2002, Oklahoma sent four Republicans and one Democrat to the US House of Representatives. Democrats controlled the state house and senate in 2003—there were 28 Democrats and 20 Republicans in the house, and 53 Democrats and 48 Republicans in the senate.

Oklahoma Presidential Vote by Political Parties, 1948–2000

Oklahoma Presidential Vote by Political Parties, 1948–2000