Rep. Annie Menz won reelection for the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 in the Tuesday election.
According to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board, as of 8:22 p.m. with 100% of precincts reporting, Menz received 52.4%, or 8,496 votes.
Republican candidate Matt Watson received 44.1%, or 7,150, while Libertarian candidate Robert Murphy received 3.5%, or 568.
Menz was born in Oklahoma City and earned an associate degree from Oklahoma City Community College. Menz is a U.S. Navy veteran and will be serving her second term.
Throughout her campaign, Menz emphasized her continued support for the free school lunch program and opposition to the ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike project.
ACCESS Oklahoma is a 15-year, $5 billion plan to construct new turnpikes and expand existing highways statewide. It was approved by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in August 2023.
“There's livestock, there's crops, there's beautiful homes, there's wildlife, the lake, there's so much out there that will be absolutely ruined by allowing this turnpike through because it won't stop at the turnpike,” Menz said. “And so it's going to negatively impact my constituents, … not just in the proposed path, but in Norman proper as well, because Lake Thunderbird is our water supply.”
Menz said the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has developed a culture of only reporting to the governor and hopes public scrutiny will propel the OTA to reengage with the people of Norman.
In a statement to OU Daily, Watson wrote that while the results were not what he hoped, he is proud of the campaign his team ran.
"In politics, as in life, we have plans and aspirations — but those do not always align with God's plans," Watson wrote. "I conclude this race knowing that I devoted my full efforts to running the best campaign possible."
This story was edited by Ana Barboza, Anusha Fathepure and Ismael Lele. Gretchen Schultz and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
