Republican Stephanie Bice defeated freshman Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn in Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District, a relief to Republicans looking to chip away at Democrats’ House majority.
Bice, a state senator, won 52% of the vote to Horn’s 48%, with 82.1%-99% of the expected vote total reported, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Horn conceded the race to Bice late on election night. In a statement, the Democrat promised to keep advocating for her issues.
“Oklahomans showed up today to make their voices heard because there is so much at stake in this election. Our health care is at stake. Our public schools are at stake. The future of our communities is at stake. Those are things worth fighting for, and I will not give up that fight,” Horn said.
Horn, 44, was elected as part of Democrat’s “blue wave” in 2018 in an upset. She defeated two-term incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Russell 51% to 49%, becoming the first Democrat in more than four decades to hold the district that covers Oklahoma City and areas to the west of it.
Trump won the district by 13 points in 2016, making the seat a prime flip opportunity for Republicans in their quest to win back the House, or at least win back Democratic-held seats with Republican-leaning voter bases.
Horn adjusted her campaign message in order to cater to the Republican-leaning voter base. She framed herself as a defender of the state’s established oil and gas industries and distanced herself from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden following a debate-night declaration that he wants to “transition from the oil industry.”
“Here’s one of the places Biden and I disagree. We must stand up for our oil and gas industry. We need an all-of-the-above energy approach that’s consumer friendly, values energy independence, and protects OK jobs. I’ll keep fighting for that in Congress,” Horn said in a tweet.
Bice, 46, swiped at Horn over energy issues despite Horn’s distancing, saying that the Democrat was “attacking the industry so many Oklahoma families depend on.”
Horn and outside groups took jabs at Bice by claiming she supported cuts to public education, despite Bice supporting a bill that increased teacher pay in Oklahoma. Bice responded by running ads that mentioned she supported educators, “fighting for the pay raise they deserved.”
