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Oklahoma, State Representative, District 45

Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45
Current incumbentMerleyn Bell Democratic Party
Population43,435
RaceWhite 83.10%, Black or African American 5.78%, American Indian and Alaska Native 5.57%, Asian 3.37%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.06%, Other 2.13%; Two or More Races 6.26%
EthnicityHispanic or Latino 6.65%

Oklahoma's forty-fifth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Merleyn Bell.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 43,435 civilians reside within Oklahoma's forty-fifth state house district. Oklahoma state representatives represent an average of 37,142 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 34,165 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Representatives may not serve more than 12 consecutive years between both chambers of the Oklahoma State Legislature. Oklahoma legislators assume office November 16th.

Qualifications

Article 5, Section 17 of the Oklahoma Constitution states: "Members of the Senate shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and members of the House of Representatives twenty-one years of age at the time of their election. They shall be qualified electors in their respective counties or districts and shall reside in their respective counties or districts during their term of office."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$35,021/year$154/day

Term limits

The Oklahoma legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Oklahoma Term Limits Act in 1990. That initiative says that Oklahoma state legislators are subject to term limits of no more than 12 years in the Oklahoma State Legislature. These 12 years can be served in any combination of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1990 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2004.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the Governor must call for a special election no later than 30 days after the vacancy happened. No special election can be called if the vacancy happens after March 1st during the year the seat is set to expire.

The person who wins the special election serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 30, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for August 25, 2020. The filing deadline is April 10, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45

Merleyn Bell (D) defeated Marc Etters (R) and Tom Hackelman (Independent) in the general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Merleyn Bell (D)
53.5
7,844

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Marc Etters (R)
39.7
5,822

Tom Hackelman (Independent)
6.8
992

Total votes: 14,658
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45

Merleyn Bell defeated Ken Kerr in the Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Merleyn Bell (D)
74.5
4,340

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Ken Kerr (D)
25.5
1,482

Total votes: 5,822
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45

Marc Etters advanced from the Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Marc Etters (R)

2016

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 15, 2016.

Incumbent Claudia Griffith defeated Marc Etters in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 general election.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Claudia Griffith Incumbent 51.33% 8,683
Republican Marc Etters 48.67% 8,234
Total Votes 16,917
Source: Oklahoma State Election Board

Incumbent Claudia Griffith ran unopposed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 Democratic primary.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Claudia Griffith Incumbent (unopposed)

Marc Etters ran unopposed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 Republican primary.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Marc Etters (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2014. Incumbent Aaron Stiles was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Claudia Griffith was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Griffith defeated Stiles in the general election.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngClaudia Griffith Incumbent 51.1% 4,687
Republican Aaron Stiles 48.9% 4,478
Total Votes 9,165

2012

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 26, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 13, 2011. Incumbent Aaron Stiles (R) defeated Paula Roberts (D) in the general election and defeated Derick Jensen in the Republican primary. Roberts was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngAaron Stiles Incumbent 50.1% 6,803
Democratic Paula Roberts 49.9% 6,787
Total Votes 13,590

Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngAaron Stiles Incumbent 75% 1,247
Derick Jensen 25% 416
Total Votes 1,663

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 raised a total of $3,073,513. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $118,212 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $143,303 2 $71,652
2014 $139,299 2 $69,650
2012 $238,097 3 $79,366
2010 $248,622 2 $124,311
2008 $176,418 5 $35,284
2006 $327,906 3 $109,302
2004 $152,361 3 $50,787
2002 $1,430,333 2 $715,167
2000 $217,174 4 $54,294
Total $3,073,513 26 $118,212