Members of the Bixby Public Schools Parent Legislative Action Committee set up voter registration tables for teachers and parents at back-to-school night.
Emily Wendler / StateImpact Oklahoma
August 29, 2018 | 1:21 pm
Candidates across the state ride education wave to victories in primary runoff
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Emily Wendler
Emily Wendler / StateImpact Oklahoma
Members of the Bixby Public Schools Parent Legislative Action Committee set up voter registration tables for teachers and parents at back-to-school night.
Every one of the six Republican incumbents who lost their primary runoff election Tuesday voted against a $450 million tax package to fund teacher pay raises earlier this year, a strong signal that education issues are a priority for voters — and a political movement emboldened by the 2018 teacher walkout could continue to be an influential force in the November election.
In House District 20 near Pauls Valley, voters ousted long-time incumbent Bobby Cleveland in favor of Sherrie Conley, an Oklahoma City Public School administrator, who won by just 66 votes.
Educators scored other political victories Tuesday in non-incumbent races or contests for open seats:
- Danny Sterling, a principal at Tecumseh High School, won the Republican nomination for House District 27
- Jennie Scott, a teacher in Enid Public Schools, won the Democratic nomination for House District 41
- Michael Ross, a teacher in Sand Springs Public Schools, won the Democratic nomination for House District 68
- Dean Davis, a teacher in Broken Arrow Public Schools, won the Republican nomination for House District 98
