Republican Mary Fallin Elected Oklahoma's First Female Governor

Staff and Wire reports

OKLAHOMA CITY – Republican candidate Mary Fallin has been named Oklahoma's first female governor.

Fallin defeated Democratic candidate Jari Askins.

Fallin was the first woman, and first Republican, ever elected Oklahoma lieutenant governor, a post she held for 12 years before becoming just the second female member of Congress from Oklahoma.

Fallin thanked her supporters during a victory speech in Oklahoma City Tuesday night.

"It's been an amazing and hectic night tonight I am so honored and humbled to be the governor-elect of Oklahoma," she said.

In a letter to her supporters she wrote "We have much work ahead of us, but I know together we will be able to move Oklahoma forward to a better future and greater opportunities."

Askins called her loss a "disappointment," but thanked her supporters at a watch party Tuesday night.

"I may be walking out of the Capitol on Inauguration Day, but I am not walking out on Oklahoma," she said.

Askins, Oklahoma's current Lieutenant Governor, said she'll spend the next few months working with the incoming Lieutenant Governor, Todd Lamb, to help his transition to office.

For the first time in state history Republicans have control of the governor's office and both branches of the Legislature. The GOP took control of the House in 2004 and the Senate in 2008.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.