Mary Fallin - 2010 Gubernatorial Election

2010 Gubernatorial Election

Incumbent Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry was easily re-elected in 2006. In 2008, Republicans made gains in the state legislature and took control of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in Oklahoma history. Governor Henry was unable to seek reelection to a third consecutive four-year term, because of term limits placed on him by the Oklahoma Constitution.

By September, 2009, Fallin along with four other candidates had announced their intention to run for Governor to succeed Henry. Other than Fallin they were:

• Former President of the Oklahoma Office Machine Dealers Association (OOMDA) Roger L. Jackson (R)
• Attorney General of Oklahoma Drew Edmondson (D)
• Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma Jari Askins (D)
• State Senator Randy Brogdon (R)
• Oklahoma business owner Robert Hubbard (R)

Fallin won the Republican nomination with 136,460 votes and defeated her nearest challenger State Senator, Randy Brogdon who won 98,159 votes. Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin endorsed Fallin in the primary. On November 2, 2010, Fallin defeated Democratic nominee Jari Askins 60% to 39%. She is the first female governor of Oklahoma.