A look at the winners (and losers) in runoff primaries for Oklahoma legislative seats

A Republican state senator from Kingfisher survived his reelection bid Tuesday as GOP voters across the state cast ballots in a handful of legislative runoff primary races.

Two-term state Sen. Darcy Jech fended off a primary challenge from the right by leaning on his legislative record and significant fundraising advantage.

Republican primary voters also rejected two controversial legislative candidates who had a history of making discriminatory remarks.

There were 11 state legislative races on Republican runoff ballots. There were no Democratic runoff primaries for legislative seats. Five legislative races were decided by Tuesday's elections.

Capturing 52.3% of the vote, Jech defeated Brady Butler, who said the "separation of church and state should have no place in the United States of America."

The electoral victory secures Jech a third and final term in the state Senate because no Democrats filed to run in Senate District 26, which includes Caddo, Blaine and Custer counties, along with parts of Kingfisher and Canadian counties.

Jech, the lone legislative incumbent on the ballot Tuesday, thanked district voters for reelecting him.

"I look forward to serving all of SD26 four more years!" he wrote on Facebook.

How did Oklahoma City-area legislative candidates fare?

Former Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police President John George, 54, will represent House District 36 in the Legislature after he defeated local business owner Anita Raglin. George was the first to jump in the race and has been campaigning since last summer.

The district is a new addition to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area after it was moved from the outskirts of Tulsa during last year's legislative redistricting process. The Oklahoma City area gained two legislative seats due to population gains.

HD 36 includes parts of Oklahoma and Cleveland counties and portions of the cities of Choctaw, Edmond, Harrah, Luther, Jones, Norman and Oklahoma City.

In House District 87 in Oklahoma City, Scott Esk lost to small business owner and political newcomer Gloria Banister.

Previous Facebook comments in which Esk wrote gay people were "worthy of death" and "we would be totally in the right" to stone them resurfaced this election cycle. Esk made the comments in 2013 in response to an article about the pope saying "who am I to judge?" on homosexuality. The comments made national headlines when Esk ran for a different House seat in 2014.

Banister, who won with 58% of the vote, will face Democrat Ellyn Hefner in the November general election for the seat that is currently represented by outgoing state Rep. Collin Walke.

In Rogers County, Ally Seifried defeated Christian Nationalist Jarrin Jackson, who had a history of making homophobic and antisemitic remarks on his right-wing social media pages.

Endorsed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, Seifried will face Democrat Jennifer Esau in the general election, although Senate District 2 favors Republicans.

Tuesday's runoff primary marks the latest electoral defeat for Jackson, an ammunition dealer and combat veteran who had previously run for congress in Oklahoma's 2nd District.

Just like in the June primary election, all of the legislative candidates endorsed by Stitt won their runoff races. The governor endorsed four legislative candidates ahead of Tuesday's elections.

Other Oklahoma legislative races at a glance

Three other state legislative races were decided Tuesday because no Democrats or independents filed for those seats. They are:

∘ Collin Duel, of Guthrie, defeated Karmin Grider in House District 31.

∘ Tom Woods, of Westville, defeated Keith Barenberg in Senate District 4.

∘ Cody Maynard, of Durant, defeated Dustin Reid in House District 21.

Republican legislative candidates will advance to general election contests in the following races:

∘ A recount is likely in the House District 34 race where Michael Baughman defeated Andrew Muchmore by 12 votes. The runoff winner will face Democratic Rep. Trish Ranson, of Stillwater, in the general election.

∘ Grant Green, of Wellston, defeated Jeff McCommas in Senate District 28 and will face Democrat Karen Rackley in November.

∘ Neil Hays, of Checotah, defeated Carlisa Rogers and will go up against Democrat Jimmy Haley in the House District 13 general election.

∘ In House District 66, Clay Staires, of Skiatook, defeated Gabe Renfrow and will face James David Rankin in November.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who won runoff primaries for Oklahoma legislative seats?