Oklahoma voters are poised to make history
as they decide whether Democratic Lt. Gov. Jari Askins or
Republican Congresswoman Mary Fallin becomes the state’s first
female governor.
Tuesday’s election also will be nationally historic, with the
women-only gubernatorial races in Oklahoma and New Mexico being
just the third and fourth such matchups in U.S. history.
Democrats have focused extensively on Oklahoma in an effort to
thwart a Republican takeover of the Legislature and the governor’s
office. Askins and Fallin are vying to replace Democratic Gov. Brad
Henry, who is term limited.
But a GOP win would complete a sweep that began when Republicans
wrestled control of the state House in 2004 and the Senate in 2008.
