A record 600 candidates filed for public office Wednesday and Thursday. The candidate filing period ends at 5 p.m. on Friday. While there has been significant increased interest in public office overall, many statewide and legislative offices still have unopposed candidates.
At the end of Day 2 of candidate filing the numbers are as follows.
Statewide Races
- If no one else files, the races for Attorney General and Commissioner of Labor would be decided in the Republican primary.
- If no one else files, Randy McDaniel is running unopposed for state treasurer.
The House of Representatives
- All 101 seats are up for election.
- 31 candidates are running unopposed for seats in the House of Representatives.
- 28 of the unopposed candidates are incumbents.
- 10 seats would be decided in the Republican primary, and 4 seats would be decided in the Democratic primary.
State Senate
- 24 seats are up for election.
- 6 candidates are running unopposed.
- Of the unopposed candidates, 4 of them are incumbents.
- 1 race would be decided in the Democratic primary.
Judges and District Attorneys
- 55 people are running unopposed for district judge across the state of Oklahoma.
- 62 people are running unopposed for associate district judge across the state of Oklahoma.
- 20 people are running unopposed for the office of district attorney across the state of Oklahoma.
The new interest appears to be limited to some highly contested districts such as:
- House District 82 -- This Edmond and northwest Oklahoma City seat is the one being vacated by Republican Kevin Calvey. As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, the second of three days of candidate filing, 10 Republicans and one Democrat had filed to replace him.
- House District 20 -- This district covers Noble, Lexington and portions of south central Oklahoma. It is currently held by Republican Bobby Cleveland. At the end of Day 2 of candidate filing, he will face five Republican primary challengers. A Democrat and and Libertarian have also filed to run for the seat.
