Rob Wallace and Markwayne Mullin Win Oklahoma Runoffs, Will Face Each Other in November

Impact

Democrat Rob Wallace and Republican Markwayne Mullin have defeated their opponents in each of their runoff elections in the 2nd congressional district. Wallace and Mullin failed to garner the necessary majority of votes in Oklahoma's June primary, which by state law is required to win the primary outright. Wallace and Mullin will vie for the seat being vacated by Congressman Dan Boren, who has held the seat since 2005 and is retiring at the end of his current term.

9:40pm: That's it for this live blog.

9:26pm: It's all over but the crying for Wayne Herriman and George Faught.

Democrat Rob Wallace, and Republican Markwayne Mullin will square off in the November general election for the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 2nd district.

9:18pm: With 60% of precincts reporting, PolicyMic is calling the Republican House primary for the 2nd district for Markwayne Mullin:

9:07pm: With 51% of precincts reporting, PolicyMic is calling the Democratic House primary for the 2nd district for Rob Wallace:

8:40pm: No surprises so far, even though it's early. Wallace is backed by the Democratic establishment and expected to win, while Mullin is expected to defeat George Faught.

8:36pm: From NewsOK.com:

8:30pm: Video of outgoing congressman Dan Boren saying he won't become a lobbyist after he leaves Congress.

Aug. 28, 8:05pm: Polls have just closed in the special runoff election. Because no candidate in either party recceived a majority of the vote in Oklahoma's June primary U.S. House primary for the 2nd district, there are runoffs on both sides. Up for grabs in November is the seat of the retiring Dan Boren, who was first elected to Congress in 2005. 

 

Congressman Dan Boren of the second congressional district is retiring at the end of his term in January after having served since 2005. Boren is just 39 years-old, making his retirement from Congress somewhat unique. Given that he is the only Democratic member of the Oklahoma congressional delegation, the opportunity is ripe for Republicans to pick up a congressional seat in this conservative district. Oklahoma elections law requires that the winning primary candidate collect a majority of the vote, which no candidate did on either side in the June primaries. 

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace led all Democrats in the primary with 46% of the vote, four points ahead of seed farm owner Wayne Herriman. Wallace, who has the backing of the national Democratic Party, is expected to win on Tuesday.

In the Republican runoff, businessman and rancher Markwayne Mullin crushed his opponents, but came up shy of the majority necessary to secure the party nomination in June. He finished 19 points ahead of his closest opponent, state Representative George Faught.

Polls close in Oklahoma at 7pm Central time, or 8pm Eastern.