Democrat Brad Henry defeated Republican Steve Largent and Independent Gary Richardson in yesterday's elections. Largent conceded this morning after the full count was in.



Henry, the former State Senator from Shawnee, was the favorite among OU students, according to a SIN poll. Nationally, his election gives the Democrats a slight gubernatorial majority, but the Republicans appear to now hold an equally small majority in both houses of Congress, although contests in South Dakota and Louisiana have yet to be decided.



Many Republican incumbents held onto their seats statewide, including Lt. Governor Mary Fallin, U.S. Senator James Inhofe, and U.S. Representatives John Sullivan (1st District), Frank Lucas (3rd District), and Ernest Istook (5th District). In one of the state's most hotly contested races, Republican Tom Cole edged past Democrat Darryl Roberts to win the seat recently vacated by J.C. Watts in the 4th District, which includes Norman. Incumbent Brad Carson, Representative for the 2nd District, remains Oklahoma's sole Democratic Congressman.



The controversial State Question 687 to ban cockfighting in Oklahoma passed by a narrow margin. The measure was supported by Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Largent, but opposed by winner Brad Henry and candidate Gary Richardson.



In other state elections, incumbent Drew Edmondson (Dem.) defeated former Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode (Rep.) for Attorney General, while State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett (Dem.) also held on to her position. The close race for State Labor Commissioner between Republican Brenda Reneau-Wynn and Democrat Lloyd Fields ended in a victory for incumbent Reneau-Wynn. In Norman, District Attorney Tim Kuykendall (Rep.) won out over Democrat Tully McCoy.



For complete election results, visit www.channeloklahoma.com or www.cnn.com.




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