Sen. James Lankford wins big in GOP primary, as Democrats Horn, Bollinger head to runoff

After winning two-thirds of the primary vote on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. James Lankford can take a breather from campaigning for the summer while Democrats pick their nominee.

Lankford easily dispatched Republican opponents Jackson Lahmeyer and Joan Farr after a campaign in which he spent millions of dollars on television ads and declined to debate.

Lahmeyer, a Tulsa pastor and political newcomer, hurled insults at Lankford on social media and at rallies attended by people in the Make America Great Again orbit but finished with just 26% of the vote. Farr, an attorney who was running Oklahoma and Kansas, got about 6%.

Lahmeyer, 30, said on Twitter, "We didn't get the results we hoped for but we blew away everyone's expectations and sent a message! I want to thank the nearly 100k Oklahomans who turned out and voted for me."

Lankford told supporters at his watch party, “It’s on to November 8th … We are one state. But our one state will make a difference this November as Republicans are trying to retake the Senate.”

Lankford has been in the U.S. Senate since winning a special election in 2014 to finish the final two years of then-Sen. Tom Coburn's term. He won his first full term in 2016. Lankford will be heavily favored to win a second full term on Nov. 8.

Democrats Madison Horn and Jason Bollinger, both of Oklahoma City, will square off in the Aug. 23 runoff. Both are political newcomers. Horn received 37% in the six-person field, while Bollinger got 17%.

“People are demanding change across our state and across the nation, and over the next few months we will work together as proud Oklahomans to bring the fight for change to the ballot box in November,” Horn said.

Horn, 32,  is a cybersecurity expert. Bollinger, 30, is an Oklahoma City lawyer who worked for the U.S. State Department.

Each had raised just over $100,000 through June 8, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

Independent Michael L. Delaney also will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sen. James Lankford easily wins GOP nod as Democrats head to runoff