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.