Bice defeats Horn, wins back Oklahoma’s lone Democratic seat

Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice has defeated U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn and won back the only Democratic-held seat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation

Election 2020 House Bice (BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)

Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice has defeated U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn and won back the only Democratic-held seat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation.

Bice, 46, earned a reputation as a political moderate in her two terms in the Senate, writing a series of bills to help overhaul the state’s antiquated alcohol laws and inviting a Hindu leader to deliver a prayer after the Legislature faced criticism for its lack of religious diversity.

Horn, 44, narrowly won the Oklahoma City-area House seat in 2018 in a district that President Donald Trump had won two years earlier by nearly 14 points. Horn tapped into a network of enthusiastic women and young people in increasingly diverse Oklahoma City and pulled off one of the midterm elections’ biggest upsets.

But Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district, which includes several traditionally conservative suburbs and two rural counties. Before Horn’s election, it had been in Republican hands for four decades.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice declared victory Tuesday in a tight race for the lone Democrat-held U.S. House seat in Oklahoma.

Bice delivered a victory speech at a GOP watch party around 10:30 p.m., and incumbent Rep. Kendra Horn conceded defeat about 45 minutes later. The Associated Press has not yet declared a winner in the race.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be standing before you as the next congresswoman from the 5th District,” Bice said, prompting a roar of the crowd. “I am thrilled that once again Oklahoma, on the federal level, is 100% red.”

About 45 minutes later, U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn gave her concession speech to supporters, her voice cracking with emotion.

“While tonight’s results aren’t what we want them to be, we have to remember that the fight is not over,” Horn said. “This seat does not belong to a party. It belongs to the people of Oklahoma. And the only way we change things is to keep going."

Horn, 44, an Oklahoma City lawyer, faced Bice, 46, for the House seat that includes Oklahoma City, several conservative suburbs and two rural counties.

Horn narrowly won the seat in 2018 in the district President Donald Trump had carried two years earlier by nearly 14 points. Horn focused on issues such as health care and education, and leveraged enthusiasm among women and young people to defeat a two-term GOP incumbent and win the seat that had been in Republican hands for four decades.

“I met her when she came into my work, and she was really nice," said Liz Webster, 27, who cast her ballot for Horn Tuesday at Life Church in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond. “I never would have even thought she was a politician "

Bice, a political moderate in her second term in the state Senate, has earned a reputation as a hard worker and a consensus builder.

“I voted for Stephanie Bice because she aligns more with my political philosophy," said Matt Mullins, 48, a state employee from Edmond who also voted for President Donald Trump. “Plus, Kendra Horn voted to impeach the president."

While Bice acknowledges the demographics of the district may be getting younger and more progressive, she notes voter registration still favors the GOP.

“I think if you look at voter registration, it doesn’t align with the narrative that the district is changing,” Bice said during a recent fundraiser. “The core has changed some ... but it’s still a Republican district.”

In addition to Horn’s victory in 2018, Democrats flipped several state legislative seats in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Horn raised nearly $5.5 million, compared to $3.12 million for Bice, but outside groups poured nearly $15 million into the race, about evenly divided between both sides, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsive Politics.

Bice has been attacked in ads for her votes on budgets that cut state funding for public schools, although she did back a teacher pay raise. Horn, meanwhile, has faced criticism for her vote to oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, even though Horn said she was willing to vote against her party on issues that would directly affect Oklahoma.

“I am never afraid to stand up to Nancy Pelosi when it’s not right for Oklahoma because I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again,” Horn said during her final debate with Bice.

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