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| Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 | ||
| Current incumbent | Kenton Patzkowsky  | |
| Population | 34,098 | |
| Race | White 80.83%, Black or African American 1.93%, American Indian and Alaska Native 1.48%, Asian 1.06%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.11%, Other 14.60%; Two or More Races 2.80% | |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic or Latino 33.41% | |
Oklahoma's sixty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Kenton Patzkowsky.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 34,098 civilians reside within Oklahoma's sixty-first state house district. Oklahoma state representatives represent an average of 37,142 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 34,165 residents.
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.
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."
| State legislators | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $35,021/year | $154/day |
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.
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 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.
Kenton Patzkowsky (R) defeated Ashley Lehnert (D) in the general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Kenton Patzkowsky (R) |
70.4
|
6,691 |
|
|
Ashley Lehnert (D) |
29.6
|
2,809 | |
|
|
Total votes: 9,500 |
Kenton Patzkowsky defeated Brad Raven in the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Kenton Patzkowsky (R) |
59.8
|
2,338 |
|
|
Brad Raven (R) |
40.2
|
1,573 | |
|
|
Total votes: 3,911 |
Ashley Lehnert advanced from the Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 on June 26, 2018.
Candidate |
||
| ✔ |
|
Ashley Lehnert (D) |
|
|
Kenton Patzkowsky and Brad Raven advanced to a runoff. They defeated Colton Buckley in the Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 on June 26, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Kenton Patzkowsky (R) |
42.1
|
2,365 |
| ✔ |
|
Brad Raven (R) |
31.8
|
1,786 |
|
|
Colton Buckley (R) |
26.2
|
1,473 | |
|
|
Total votes: 5,624 |
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 Casey Murdock defeated Ashlee Renee Ortiz in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 general election.Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 61 General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Casey Murdock Incumbent |
85.35% | 10,675 | |
| Democratic | Ashlee Renee Ortiz | 14.65% | 1,833 | |
| Total Votes | 12,508 | |||
| Source: Oklahoma State Election Board | ||||
Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 61 Democratic Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ashlee Renee Ortiz (unopposed) |
Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Casey Murdock Incumbent |
66.02% | 2,782 | |
| Republican | Garlan Flanagan | 33.98% | 1,432 | |
| Total Votes | 4,214 | |||
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. Casey Murdock and Kenny Tapp defeated Larry Swager, Steve Moore and David Elder in the Republican primary. Murdock defeated Tapp in the August 26 Republican runoff, leaving him unchallenged in the general election.
Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2014
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Casey Murdock (advanced to runoff) |
35% | 1,343 |
| Kenny Tapp (advanced to runoff) |
24.8% | 953 |
| Steve Moore | 16.8% | 644 |
| David Elder | 12.5% | 479 |
| Larry Swager | 10.9% | 417 |
| Total Votes | 3,836 | |
Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 61, Run-off Republican Primary, 2014
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Casey Murdock (advanced to general election) |
59.4% | 1,767 |
| Kenny Tapp | 40.6% | 1,207 |
| Total Votes | 2,974 | |
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 Gus Blackwell (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary.
From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61 raised a total of $873,316. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $36,388 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Oklahoma House of Representatives District 61
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $135,592 | 3 | $45,197 |
| 2014 | $126,946 | 5 | $25,389 |
| 2012 | $59,345 | 1 | $59,345 |
| 2010 | $83,472 | 3 | $27,824 |
| 2008 | $121,961 | 2 | $60,981 |
| 2006 | $25,644 | 1 | $25,644 |
| 2004 | $79,984 | 2 | $39,992 |
| 2002 | $117,815 | 5 | $23,563 |
| 2000 | $122,557 | 2 | $61,279 |
| Total | $873,316 | 24 | $36,388 |
