Fallin, Hofmeister victory margins lag other GOPs

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Republicans steamrolled to a clean sweep of federal and statewide offices in Oklahoma’s general election, but the two GOP candidates with the closest ties to public education fared worst among statewide Republican winners.

Despite a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage and the power of incumbency, Republican Governor Mary Fallin’s 15-point margin over Democratic state Rep. Joe Dorman in Tuesday’s election was smaller than her 20-point win in 2010 in the race for an open governor’s seat against then-Lt. Gov. Jari Askins. Joy Hofmeister’s 11-point victory over Democrat John Cox in the state superintendent’s race was even tighter.

By comparison, Republicans running for other statewide offices enjoyed margins of victory ranging from 25 percent to 37 percent.

Democrats say the numbers are an indictment of Fallin’s first four years in office.