Oklahoma
Several new House, Senate members win seats in Oklahoma Legislature • Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tuesday’s election swept in several new House and Senate members vying for open seats, but also proved to be a good night for incumbents.
Not a single incumbent state House or Senate lawmaker lost Tuesday.
Incumbent Republican Warren Hamilton of McCurtain easily defeated Democrat challenger Jerry L. Donathan of McAlester in the race for Senate District 7 by a vote of 77% to 23%.
In the race for Senate District 15, Republican Lisa Standridge bested Democrat Elizabeth Foreman by a vote of 62% to 38%. Both are from Norman.
Standrige is the spouse of Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, who is leaving due to term limits.
The seat for Senate District 21 became open when Tom Dugger, D-Stillwater, decided not to seek another term.
Republican Dr. Randy Grellner of Cushing defeated Democrat Robin Fuxa of Stillwater by a vote of 65% to 35%.
Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, fended off Democrat Melissa Bryce of Tulsa in the race for Senate District 39. The vote was 56% to 44%.
The seat for Senate District 43 became open when Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, lost her reelection bid in the primary.
Republican Kendal Sacchieri of Blanchard defeated Democrat Sam Graefe of Purcell by a vote of 80.5% to 19.5%.
Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, could not run again for Senate District 46 due to term limits.
Democrat Mark Mann of Oklahoma City beat Republican Charles Barton of Del City and David Pilchman, an independent from Oklahoma City. Mann garnered 60.42% of the vote.
Republican Kelly E. Hines defeated Democrat Erin Brewer in the race for Senate District 47, which became open when Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, termed out. Both are from Edmond. The vote was 53% to 47%.
In the race for House District 4, Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, easily defeated Democratic challenger Christopher Wier, also of Tahlequah. The vote was 68% to 32%.
Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, chose not to seek reelection to House District 12.
Republican Mark Chapman of Broken Arrow beat Democrat Crystal LaGrone of Coweta by a vote of 79% to 21%.
Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, easily defeated Democratic challenger Rosie Lynch, also of Okmulgee, in the race for House
District 16. The vote was 71% to 29%.
“I am just thankful the citizens of House District 16 reelected me for a ninth year,” Fetgatter said. “I am excited to get to work and work with new leadership.”
In the race for House District 26, Rep. Dell Kerbs defeated Democrat Kerri Keck, also of Shawnee, by a vote of 62% to 38%.
Kerbs said he commends anybody who puts their name on the ballot to run for office.
“It takes a lot of courage and hard work,” Kerbs said.
He said he appreciated the voters of House District 26 for sending him back to the Capitol.
Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, beat Republican challenger Andrew Muchmore, also of Stillwater, in the race for House District 34. The vote was 59% to 41%.
In the race for House District 37, Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, beat independent Carter Rogers of Fairfax by a vote of 79% to 21%.
“It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve this district and listen to the concerns, issues and problems here in rural Oklahoma,” Luttrell said.
He said he will work to see that students have a path to success and stay in Oklahoma. He also wants to work on finding common sense solutions to problems.
“I am honored and humbled by the support,” Luttrell said.
Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Yukon, defeated Democrat Mike Bockus of Edmond in the race for House District 41. The vote was 68% to 32%.
In the race for House District 43, Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, beat independent Cassie Kinet, also of Yukon, by a vote of 70% to 30%.
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, bested Republican Alexander W. Torvi of Norman in the race for House District 46. The vote was 54% to 46%.
Polling showed the race was going to be tight, Rosecrants said.
Rosecrants thanked his opponent, who he said ran a good race.
“What this shows, though, is that my constituents don’t like extremism,” Rosecrants said. “They don’t like (State Superintendent) Ryan Walters.”
Rosecrants said he ran on being accessible and working across the aisle.
Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, held on to House District 70. She beat GOP challenger Bradley Banks, also from Tulsa, by a vote of 56% to 44%.
Republican David B. Hooten of Nichols Hills was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, in the race for House District 85. The vote was 61% to 39%.
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The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) offers support to residents affected by the severe storms that hit central and eastern Oklahoma on Jan. 8.
Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready emphasized the department’s commitment to helping those impacted.
“As we begin recovery after this severe weather, the Oklahoma Insurance Department is here to help,” Mulready said. “We want everyone affected to know that if you have questions about your policy, need assistance with the claims process, or just aren’t sure where to start, our Consumer Assistance Division is ready to support you every step of the way.”
Residents can reach out to OID’s Consumer Assistance division at 800-522-0071 or visit oid.ok.gov for support. Mulready also urged Oklahomans to report damage at damage.ok.gov.
The department provided several post-storm tips for victims, including documenting damage with photos or videos, making necessary temporary repairs, and consulting with trusted roofing contractors. Residents are advised to contact their insurance company after obtaining repair estimates and to save all receipts for any repairs made.
Additionally, the OID warned against contractor fraud, advising residents to get multiple bids, check references, and avoid paying upfront. Suspected fraud should be reported to the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit at 833-681-1895.
For more information on storm preparation and insurance coverage, visit oid.ok.gov/GetReady.
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8:45 p.m. Tornado Update from NWS Norman:
EF1 (high end) at Purcell
EF0 near Lake Thunderbird (south of Stella/northwest of Little Axe)
EF1 west and near the Shawnee Twin Lakes
EF1 in north Shawnee.
There are other areas of damage that we will continue to investigate.
Original story:
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Storms moved through parts of Oklahoma on Thursday morning, with at least five tornado warnings issued and two tornadoes that touched down in Purcell and Shawnee, leaving behind damage.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through central and eastern Oklahoma early Thursday that producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and power outages.
Preliminary information from the National Weather Service in Norman shows that at least EF-1 damage was found in Purcell. Survey teams are continuing to assess the damage that was left behind from the morning storms.
Officials also reported that widespread power outages occurred in the city, along with downed trees and powerlines, with nine homes having damaged roofs, and a semi-truck rollover accident on I-35 with one injury.
Shawnee also suffered some damage Thursday morning, which includes downed fences and partial roof loss at the Holiday Inn Express. As of Thursday evening, NWS officials confirm that a tornado did touch down in the northern portion of Shawnee; however, a preliminary rating hasn’t been given at this time.
According to Comanche County Emergency Management, damages related to the storms were reported across the City of Lawton, with roof damage at Sheridan and Lee, along with power pole and power line damage.
Lawton Fire Department responded to a rooftop fire at MacArthur High School on Thursday morning, caused by wind damage to AC units.
Lightning strikes in Edmond were reported to have caused a transformer fire near Covell and Kelly, with another lightning strike having caused a tree to fall on top of a vehicle near Covell and Broadway, resulting in one person being injured.
Straight-line winds were also reported to have destroyed a barn north of Guthrie, while structures were damaged in south Wynona, including a shop building that was devastated and a mobile home that was damaged.
Damage assessments are said to be ongoing at this time. News 4 will provide updates as we learn more.
According to NWS Norman officials, the last time the department issued a tornado warning in January was on January 10, 2020. However, Thursday’s reported tornado was not the earliest for a tornado to occur in Oklahoma. Tornadoes happened in Osage, Mayes, McIntosh, Ottawa, and Sequoyah Counties back on January 2, 2023.
Purcell OK resident recounts how tornado damaged home
Jennifer Fox says she didn’t hear any warning sirens but knew there was a tornado in the area after severe weather tore her garage awning from the ground.
PURCELL — Jennifer Fox had just fed the pigs behind her house early in the morning Thursday, Jan. 8, and began getting ready for work before she and her two sons heard something hit her bedroom window.
“I said, ‘Is it hailing?” she said. “My oldest looked out the window and he saw our awning across the back. He said, ‘Mom, the awning’s gone.”
Fox looked out the window and saw debris everywhere. She said she didn’t hear tornado sirens, but she and her sons immediately took shelter in a closet. By that time, the suspected tornado had already passed through her neighborhood off of Johnson Avenue in Purcell.
At first, Fox didn’t think there was a tornado and attributed the damage and debris to strong winds.
But just one street over, the roof of one house had been destroyed. When she looked at the house behind hers, Fox said she knew a tornado had hit her neighborhood.
“I was thankful at the time,” she said. “I told my kids, I said, ‘It could’ve been a lot worse.’ We weren’t prepared, obviously. I really felt like it just barely missed us.”
Severe weather passed through central Oklahoma early Thursday morning, bringing reports of damage from a possible tornado in Purcell. The National Weather Service in Norman reported on social media that survey teams have found at least EF1 tornado damage in the Purcell area.
The Purcell Fire Department reported a tornado touched down in the city, causing roof damage to nine homes, a semi truck rollover accident on Interstate 35 with one injury and widespread power outages, downed trees and powerlines.
On Norte Street in Purcell, the suspected tornado wiped out the roof of a newly-built home, throwing debris onto the road, including a Christmas tree and blue ornaments. The houses across the street and next door were untouched.
Community members and local high school students gathered pieces of trash, plywood, insulation and other debris and hauled them off.
Next door to Fox, a man and a woman removed debris from their yard that appeared to have blown over from Fox’s house. Like a puppy, a tall brown horse followed the man as he picked up each piece of trash. Across the street, cattle laid in the middle of a field and watched as one person after another drove into the neighborhood to lend a hand.
About five miles northeast of Fox’s house, the suspected tornado knocked over a few powerlines near Purcell’s football stadium. A tree fell onto a small white house and took the tin roof off a large warehouse.
Ron Musgrave, the warehouse’s owner, lives six miles north of Purcell. He said he learned his property was damaged through a local news broadcast.
“They had the people out front and they had the helicopters, so I could see it,” Musgrave said. “They were flying over here. There’s a football field, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. If that’s the football field, that’s my warehouse.”
The retired home builder and property owner said he keeps building supplies in his warehouse and a black and white cat who’s in charge of exterminating any trespassing mice.
The cat was happy to see Musgrave as he surveyed the water damage inside of the warehouse. Though there was some wet spots, the roof took most of the impact.
“It’s a project,” Musgrave said with a smile. “I am down for it.”
Severe weather damage reported in Shawnee, Norman
Tree damage was reported in Cleveland County at 156th Street and East Tecumseh Avenue, according to Alyse Moore, Cleveland County communications director, along with damage to a car port and barn at 800 Moffatt Road north of Lexington.
Storm damage was also reported in Shawnee. Social media posts show damage to the Holiday Inn Express and Walmart Supercenter off of Interstate 40.
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