Oklahoma, steadfast in its Republican allegiance, is one amongst the duo of states that basked in the red glow across every county in the Presidential elections. The spectacle of an entirely Republican state has become something of a tradition for these fertile lands of Oklahoma.
From casting a brief look at Oklahoma’s history in Presidential elections, a Republican dominance is clear. With an unbroken pattern of Republican preference since 1968, Oklahoma has remained staunchly loyal to its political leaning.
In the latest 2024 Election, even though the certificate of votes is still in process, the outcome is undeniable: every single county of Oklahoma has expressed their allegiance to the Republican banner with a vote for Donald Trump, against Kamala Harris.
Of all the votes cast, the thrilling count of 1,035,217 was in favor of President-elect Donald Trump, which translates to a solid 66.2% of the entire state’s votes. Unfortunately, Vice President Harris was only able to cast a pallid shadow, receiving just 499,043 votes.
A trip down memory lane shows the roots of this Republican favoritism. Since Richard Nixon’s triumphant campaign for the 37th presidency in 1968, Oklahoma has been painting the town red. This election saw 963,728 votes being cast, with Nixon bagging 449,697 votes and cementing his victory.
Shifting our gaze to the past, the last occasion when the state shifted its hue to blue was for the victorious campaign of Lyndon B Johnson in 1964. However, it’s important to realize that this was merely a momentary lapse in an otherwise consistent pattern of Republican endorsement.
For Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964 election was an anomaly when 55.75% of Oklahomans voted for him. Quite a sharp contrast from his vice-presidential run alongside the esteemed President John F. Kennedy in 1960, where the state was painted remarkably red, with 59.02% votes in favor of Richard Nixon.
One might ask, how long has the entire state been all red? Thanks to the archival data available on the State Board of Elections website providing respective county breakdowns for every Presidential election since 2000, it comes out that Oklahoma has been draped in red since the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
Interestingly, in the 2000 election that took place between Bush and Al Gore, a minor irregularity deviated from the typical red norm. Eight counties surprisingly swung to the Democrats: Cherokee, Choctaw, Haskell, Hughes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Ottawa.
However, the scant deviations from the time-honored pattern do little to break the strong aura of Republican influence that Oklahoma exhibits. It’s crucial to note how this resilient dependence on the Republican party can help interpret the pulse of the state’s political leanings.
Given Oklahoma’s consistency in backing Republican candidates and unwavering red status, it comes as a surprise how the Democrats continue to field candidates against the seemingly insurmountable Republican stronghold.
In conclusion, the prowess of Republicans in Oklahoma is undeniable. Election after election, the state reaffirms its loyalty by voting red – thereby making a powerful statement about their continued faith in the Republican party and its representatives, such as Donald Trump.
In electoral terms, Oklahoma continues to serve as a beacon of Republican sentiment. While it was a long shot for Democrats like Kamala Harris to make an inroad, the upcoming years will be a testament to this political stronghold’s consistency. One thing is for sure: Oklahoma is, and will continue to be, unapologetically red.