Oklahoma

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Brad Henry scored what has been called an “historic” landslide victory over his Republican opponent, Rep. Ernest Istook. Henry garnered 66.5 percent of the vote, topping former Gov. George Nigh’s feat of 63 percent in 1982, but unlike Nigh, Henry did not win all 77 counties. Istook, the seven-term representative from the 5th Congressional District, won in Beaver, Cimarron and Texas counties.

Oklahoma Insurance Commis-sioner Kim Holland retained her post, fending off a nasty ad campaign promulgated by a group with Texas ties that calls itself “Just the Facts America.” Holland, a Tulsa Democrat, won 52 percent of the vote, beating Republican state Rep. Bill Case of Midwest City, who got 48 percent.

In the state Senate, Republicans picked up enough votes to tie the membership of that body. Demo-crats are expected to retain the upper hand, due to the election of Democrat Jari Askins of Duncan, to the post of lieutenant governor, which presides over the state Senate. Askins gained 50 percent of the vote to defeat Republican House Speaker Todd Hiett of Kellyville, with 48 percent.

In an upset, Lloyd Fields, a Democrat, unseated incumbent Republican Brenda Reneau as Commissioner of Labor.

Associated Press reports contributed to this story.