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Oklahoma, State Representative, District 79

Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79
Current incumbentMelissa Provenzano Democratic Party
Population34,194
RaceWhite 75.72%, Black or African American 9.88%, American Indian and Alaska Native 4.39%, Asian 4.45%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.08%, Other 5.48%; Two or More Races 5.39%
EthnicityHispanic or Latino 10.90%

Oklahoma's seventy-ninth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Melissa Provenzano.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 34,194 civilians reside within Oklahoma's seventy-ninth 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 79

Melissa Provenzano (D) defeated Dan Hicks (R) in the general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Melissa Provenzano (D)
52.0
6,507

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dan Hicks (R)
48.0
6,007

Total votes: 12,514
Primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79

Dan Hicks defeated Karen Gilbert in the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dan Hicks (R)
50.9
2,015

Karen Gilbert (R)
49.1
1,940

Total votes: 3,955
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79

Melissa Provenzano defeated Brian Pingleton in the Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Melissa Provenzano (D)
73.5
2,794

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brian Pingleton (D)
26.5
1,007

Total votes: 3,801
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79

Karen Gilbert and Dan Hicks advanced to a runoff. They defeated Matthew Lee in the Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Karen Gilbert (R)
48.3
2,362

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dan Hicks (R)
44.9
2,194

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Matthew Lee (R)
6.8
330

Total votes: 4,886

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 Weldon Watson defeated Teresa Marler in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 general election.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 79 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Weldon Watson Incumbent 65.13% 9,242
Independent Teresa Marler 34.87% 4,948
Total Votes 14,190
Source: Oklahoma State Election Board

Incumbent Weldon Watson ran unopposed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 Republican primary.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 79 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Weldon Watson Incumbent (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 Weldon Watson defeated Lois Jacobs in the Republican primary. Watson was unchallenged in the general election.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 79 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngWeldon Watson Incumbent 73.8% 2,429
Lois Jacobs 26.2% 861
Total Votes 3,290

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 Weldon Watson (R) was unopposed in the general election and defeated Lois Jacobs in the Republican primary.

Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngWeldon Watson Incumbent 73.1% 2,200
Lois Jacobs 26.9% 811
Total Votes 3,011

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2016, candidates for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79 raised a total of $636,012. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $48,924 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Oklahoma House of Representatives District 79

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $111,263 2 $55,632
2014 $154,479 2 $77,240
2012 $127,768 2 $63,884
2010 $69,923 1 $69,923
2008 $62,575 2 $31,288
2006 $66,269 2 $33,135
2004 $13,050 1 $13,050
2000 $30,685 1 $30,685
Total $636,012 13 $48,924