Local Republicans waited anxiously at a Norman restaurant for the results of the 2008 elections.

Even though Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. lead the election from the start, a buzz of chatter from close to 60 people filled Coach’s Brewhouse with boisterous talk and cheers for republican candidates at the GOP Watch Party.

Roger Warren, chairman of the Cleveland County GOP, kicked off the night with a prayer for the nation. A few local Republican candidates spoke, including Oklahoma Representative Scott Martin, who was reelected to another term as the Representative for District 46 in Norman.

“History is going to be made tonight,” Martin said in his speech. “For the first time, we are going to make up the majority of the State Senate.”

Many Republicans remained optimistic and outgoing throughout the evening, and occasional cheers rang through the room whenever a Republican victory was announced.

Norman resident Jaci Greggs said she was anxious, but she thought Oklahoma chose the right leaders.

Although the thought of Obama running the country does not excite her, Greggs said the next four years will be crucial to establishing a stronger conservative party.

Regardless of the outcome, the Republican party will keep moving forward, Greggs said.

Her husband, David Greggs, also said Oklahoma will have a challenge to stamp out Socialism, especially in local areas around Norman.

“We’ll have to work that much harder to keep conservative views alive in Oklahoma,” he said.

But Greggs said he still has hope.

The Republican Party took the majority of wins in the State House of Representatives and the State Senate, Greggs said.

Todd J. Barrett, who lost his race for Okla. House in district 44, said he thinks he gave his opponent solid competition, and Republicans should be proud.

“If anything else, I think we made a statement,” Barrett said.

As for the state, he said although Democrats have been in control for 100 years, he expected the Republican Party to take over this year. As it turned out, he was right.

Not only did McCain take Oklahoma’s presidential nomination, but candidate Jim Inhofe was re-elected to the State Senate, and at least 60 seats in the House were taken by Republicans.

“We did it, we did it, we did it,” Martin said.