LAWTON – GOP candidate Dusty Deevers and his Democratic opponent Larry Bush Jr. will advance to December’s special general election to fill the District 32 seat in the Oklahoma Senate.
The pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Elgin and CEO of Deevers Properties, Deevers defeated three other contenders for the Republican nomination in the Oct. 10 special primary election. He finished with 1,416 votes, according to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board.
“The voters of Comanche County have spoken emphatically that it’s time to bring morality and accountability back to government,” Deevers said in a statement on his campaign’s Facebook page. “They have sent a loud message to the swamp that lies and dirty politics have no place in Comanche County.”
A constitutional conservative, Deevers pledged to protect voters’ rights to speak, worship and make educational and medical decisions for themselves and their family.
On the Republican side, Dr. Jean Hausheer came in second with 1,177 votes, and Elgin Mayor JJ Francais finished third with 725 votes. Lawton businesswoman Jennifer Ellis finished fourth with 501 votes.
Hausheer said on her campaign’s Facebook page that she thanked her supporters for remaining civil and striving to honor God throughout the campaign.
“Negative campaigning always lowers voter turnout, never honors God, and is why we deliberately chose to stay positive,” she said.
Francais also used his campaign’s page to thank the voters who supported his campaign.
“The result wasn’t what I hoped for, but life goes on,” he said in a statement. “Since 2009, I have served on numerous nonprofit boards and supported more community causes than I can count. That won’t change.”
Ellis did not return an email message seeking comment before press time Saturday.
Bush wins Democratic primary
In the Democratic primary race, Bush defeated his sole opponent, Johnny Jernigan. Bush finished with 922 votes, while Jernigan came in second with 335 votes.
Bush, who is chairman and CEO of the Larry Bush Insurance Agency in Lawton, said he was honored to be the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat.
“Thank you to everyone who showed up to the polls today!” he said on his personal Facebook page.
“I would also like to thank Mr. Jernigan for running a clean campaign based on the issues. On to December!”
Bush said he remains steadfast in supporting strong public schools, rooting out corruption at the state Capitol and fighting for his community’s safety and health care.
Jernigan did not respond to an email seeking comment by press time.
Deevers and Bush will square off in the Dec. 12 special general election. The winner will replace former state Sen. John Michael Montgomery, who stepped down earlier this year to take a position as the new president/CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.