GOP candidate easily wins state Senate seat vacated by Bice

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state Senate seat vacated by now-U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice will remain in GOP control.

Republican Jake Merrick of Yukon easily won the Senate District 22 special election Tuesday, capturing more than 65% of the vote against Democrat Molly Ooten. The heavily Republican district stretches across parts of north Oklahoma City, Edmond, Piedmont and Yukon.

Merrick, 39, is a conservative Republican who has opposed coronavirus-related shutdowns and wants to make abortion illegal in Oklahoma. He will serve the remainder of Bice’s term, which expires in 2022.

With Merrick’s election, Republicans have a 39-9 advantage over Democrats in the Senate.

Also on Tuesday, Edmond City Councilmember Darrell Davis was elected mayor of the Oklahoma City suburb with nearly 62% of the vote against home builder Nathan Walters in the nonpartisan mayoral race.