Greg Treat Wins Senate District 47 Seat

“The first order of business beyond that around my personal family is just trying to spend some time with my 3-year-old and my 7-month-old this week,” Treat, 32, said.

The oddly timed election required Treat and other candidates to spend considerable time away from their families during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays so they could campaign.

Treat beat runner-up Carol Hefner, a well-funded, aggressive campaigner with notable name recognition, and three other Republicans in Tuesday’s winner-take-all special election.

Treat will succeed former Sen. Todd Lamb, an Edmond Republican who left office to become lieutenant governor. The district covers parts of northwest Oklahoma City and Edmond.

Treat could be sworn in as early as Jan. 19, a Senate spokeswoman said. An official swearing in date won’t be set until election results are certified.

Treat’s election Tuesday is the final piece of a historic election season by state Republicans. Last year, Republicans increased their majorities in the House and Senate and captured all the statewide offices.

Treat contributed to those victories as a coordinator of voter recruitment campaigns for state Republicans.

He said his past campaign experience helped him win a seat of his own in the Senate.

Also boosting Treat’s campaign was an endorsement from his former boss, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee.

About 16 percent of the district’s 31,506 registered Republicans voted Tuesday — a better turnout than election officials predicted.

Only Republicans could vote because the election was technically a primary, and Oklahoma has closed primary laws. No Democrats or independents filed for the seat.

Treat defeated Hefner, 49, engineer Todd Brawley, 46, attorney Steven Dobbs, 63, and attorney Kenny Goza, 41.