By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
Incumbent State Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader of Piedmont won the Republican primary Tuesday in House District 41.
The unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board show Crosswhite Hader with 1,786 votes, or 57.58% over newcomer Shea Bracken’s 1,316 votes or 42.42%. Crosswhite Hader will face Democrat Mike Bockus Nov. 5.
Also, Canadian County Sheriff Chris West handily defeated Republican Justin Mize Tuesday.
How the voting went
At The Bridge Piedmont Assembly of God Church at 4050 Edmond Road NE, the voting Tuesday morning was light.
The church is the location of Precinct 507, a polling place in northeast Canadian County in the City of Piedmont city limits.
Most voters cast ballots at The Bridge Piedmont in the evening, said Truda Hibbs, the precinct inspector.
The voting before noon was lighter than she had hoped for, she said.
“There are not nearly as many people here voting as I would like to see,” Hibbs said about mid-morning. She said voting would pick up, “usually between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.”
For Canadian County Sheriff, West had 10,040 votes or 81.83% compared to Mize’s 2,230 votes, 18.17%, the Canadian County Election Board reported.
For court clerk in Canadian County, Holly Eaton of El Reno had 8,048 votes, or 68.13% over Mark Pendergraft of Yukon who had 3,764 votes or 31.87%, the Canadian County Election Board reported.
For Canadian County commissioner in District 2 there will be a runoff between Josh Davis and Lacey Dawson. Dawson had 1,930 votes or 49.99% and Davis had 1,716 votes or 44.44%. Laramie Bryant had 215 votes or 5.5%.
In Kingfisher County….
A runoff is ahead in the Kingfisher County sheriff’s race, according to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board Tuesday night.
Former Okarche Police Chief Forrest Smith was one of the four Kingfisher County Republicans running for sheriff. Smith was fired by the Okarche Town Trustees recently. Smith’s bid to be sheriff fell short Tuesday. A runoff will be between Jonathan Riedlinger and Aaron Pitts.
With 12 of 12 precincts reported, Kingfisher County Sheriff’s deputy Jonathan Riedlinger had 1,321 votes, or 49.49% of the vote, over Aaron Pitts, 770 votes, or 28.85%. Smith had 490 votes, 18.36%, and Jeremiah Loper 88 votes, 3.30%.
For Canadian County commissioner in District 2 there will be a runoff between Josh Davis and Lacey Dawson. Dawson had 1,930 votes or 49.99% and Davis had 1,716 votes or 44.44%. Laramie Bryant had 215 votes or 5.5%.
The Oklahoma State Election Board shows that in House District 41 there are 27,753 registered voters.
There are 16,509 Republicans in House District 41, including 9,004 registered Republicans living in Canadian County and 711 in Kingfisher County. There are 5,991 registered Republicans residing in northwest Oklahoma County within the HD 41 borders.
There are also 5,706 Democrats, 5,263 Independents and 275 Libertarians in HD 41, the Oklahoma Election Board reported in January 2024.
Bracken is a war veteran who has said he is running on a platform of fighting illegal immigration, and he wants to focus on legislation for the district.
Hader has said illegal immigration is also a top concern of voters. She said she will also continue to make infrastructure top priorities if elected.
State House District 41 continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas of the state that covers all of Piedmont, Surrey Hills, northeast Canadian County, Cashion, and parts of Logan, Oklahoma and Kingfisher counties.
The state legislative district spans from as far to the east as NW 178 and May Avenue in the Deer Creek School district and city of Oklahoma City limits, north to State Highway 33, west to Gregory Road and north of Northwest Expressway in western parts of Oklahoma City within the Canadian County borders.
In Oklahoma, state representatives serve two-year terms. There is a 12-year term limit for legislators.
Crosswhite Hader and Bracken appeared at the Countyline Republicans Legislative Candidate Panel Thursday, June 6 at the Canadian Valley Technology Center Cowan Campus, 1701 S Czech Hall Road. The panel was free to the public. The winner of the primary faces Democrat Mike Bockus.
Meanwhile, on the ballots Tuesday June 18, was the primary for state corporation commissioner. Candidates are Republicans J. Brian Bingman, Russell Ray and Justin Hornback.
For U.S. Congressional District 3 were Republican candidates Frank D. Lucas, incumbent, Robin Lynn Carder and Darren Hamilton.
Voters in Canadian County cast ballots for sheriff in the race between Sheriff Chris West and Justin Mize, and for a court clerk, and county commissioner in District Two that covers the southwest and Mustang area of the county. Holly Eaton of El Reno and Mark Pendergraft of Yukon are running for court clerk.
Only registered Republicans can vote in Republican primaries in Oklahoma. Run-off elections if needed are Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Other Piedmont area polling places are at Precinct 200, Grace Communion Church, 12201 Ashford Drive in Surrey Hills; Precinct 506, Piedmont First Baptist Church, 15 Jackson Ave. NW in Piedmont; and at the Piedmont United Methodist Church, 2525 N Piedmont Road in Piedmont.
Read The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette for election results.
