Oklahoma Guaranteed To Pick Its First Female Governor Come November

The Associated Press and NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The November general election ballot will feature two women for governor at the top of the ticket. 

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins defeated Attorney General Drew Edmonson on Tuesday. The attorney general conceded in a late-night speech that he would not make up the slim margin Askins held as the final votes are counted. 

Askins will face Republican congresswoman Mary Fallin in the November 2nd general election. Askins and Edmondson each gave up relatively safe seats in an effort to keep the governor's seat in Democratic hands. Gov. Brad Henry is term-limited and cannot seek a third term. 

Edmondson said he would work to help Askins in the fall, saying it was important for the Democratic Party to be unified. Oklahoma Democrats lost control of the state Legislature in 2008.

Even without having a chance to vote for herself, Fallin defeated three challengers and won her party's nomination in the Oklahoma governor's race. 

Fallin flew to Washington before the polls opened Tuesday to cast a vote on a military funding bill and wasn't able to vote Tuesday. 

Fallin held off a pesky challenge from conservative state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso. Also in the Republican race were Oklahoma City-area businessmen Robert Hubbard and Roger Jackson. 

A 20-year veteran of Oklahoma politics, Fallin raised more than $2.4 million for the race, more than eight times as much as Brogdon.

See NewsOn6.com's Primary Election Results

"I am running for governor to lead Oklahoma during difficult times. We are currently facing a recession, a budget crisis and unprecedented federal intervention that is as intrusive as it is harmful. As governor, I will focus like a laser beam on job creation and economic development. I'll cut wasteful spending out of the budget and make our state government more efficient. And, of course, I'll stand up to Washington and fight for our rights. I'm confident that we have a bright future ahead of us, and I'm ready to lead us in the right direction," Fallin said.

7/27/2010  Related Story: Tuesday's Primary Election Results Tallied