Oklahoma Dems hope to mirror election successes nationwide

The recent success of Democrats in deep-red Oklahoma amid will be put to a further test Tuesday in special elections for three previously Republican-held state legislative seats in races that could mirror others nationwide.

The races are in suburban districts in Oklahoma City and Tulsa where Republicans have nearly 2-to-1 registration advantages, but come at a time of voter frustration over years of state budget shortfalls and recent scandals that have led to the resignation of Republican incumbents.

The special elections also come on the heels of a tidal wave election in Virginia last week that saw several Democrats win state House races against Republican incumbents. Republicans are downplaying the losses, but sweeping victories in Virginia and key gains in other 2017 state legislative races have Democrats hoping for even bigger wins in next year's midterm election.

Although Republicans hold every statewide elected office in Oklahoma and enjoy super majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats have found particular success in special elections, even in strongly Republican districts.....

The seats open in Tuesday's election include one in south Oklahoma City held by former Republican state Sen. Kyle Loveless, who resigned in April and later pleaded guilty to embezzling campaign funds. The other seats up for grabs include a state House seat in Broken Arrow where incumbent Rep. David Brumbaugh died while in office and a Senate seat in suburban Tulsa where Sen. Dan Newberry is stepping down to pursue a private-sector career opportunity.



http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/oklahoma-democrats-finding-success-special-elections-51122946