In Oklahoma City, 11-term U.S. Representative Tom Cole secured victory in the five-way Republican primary without the need for a runoff. Cole faced significant competition from businessman Paul Bondar, who injected over $5 million of his own funds into his campaign. Bondar used this money to saturate television airwaves and social media with advertisements, promoting his candidacy. Despite Bondar’s strong financial backing, Cole, who serves as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, emerged as the winner. He is now vying for his 12th term representing Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District, which includes various cities in south-central Oklahoma such as Ada, Ardmore, and Norman. In the upcoming November election, Cole will compete against Democrat Mary Brannon and independent candidate James Stacy.
Campaign finance reports revealed the stark contrast in spending between Bondar and Cole. Bondar poured nearly $4.9 million of his personal wealth into the race, whereas Cole spent about $3.1 million but maintained a substantial cash advantage over his opponent. The intensity of the campaign and the saturation of advertisements led to voter fatigue, with many expressing a desire for the election to be over due to the overwhelming presence of Bondar and Cole ads on airwaves. Chad Alexander, a former chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, characterized the significant financial investment in the race as particularly impactful given the state’s relatively lower cost of advertising compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Despite Bondar’s criticism of Cole for his support of foreign aid, including funds allocated to Ukraine, Cole solidified his conservative credentials by securing an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Bondar faced scrutiny over his residency, with questions arising about his recent relocation to Texas and his voting in that state’s Republican primary in March. This issue became a focal point of Cole’s attacks against Bondar during the campaign. The race between the two candidates was marked by differing policy stances and personal backgrounds, ultimately leading to Cole’s victory and advancement to the November general election.
In addition to the race between Cole and Bondar, two other Oklahoma congressmen faced challengers in their respective districts. In the 3rd Congressional District in western Oklahoma, incumbent U.S. Representative Frank Lucas, the longest-serving member of the House delegation, easily defeated two lesser-known challengers. With no Democrats or independents vying for the seat, Lucas secured re-election. In the 1st District based in Tulsa, U.S. Representative Kevin Hern emerged victorious over Paul Royse in the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, former FBI agent Dennis Baker triumphed over perennial candidate Evelyn Rogers. Hern is set to face Baker and independent candidate Mark David Garcia Sanders in the general election scheduled for November, shaping up the political landscape for the upcoming cycle.
