US Sen. James Lankford easily wins primary nomination; Democratic runoff set in Senate race

U.S. Sen. James Lankford easily captured the Republican nomination in his run for a second full term on Tuesday, while Democrats Madison Horn and Jason Bollinger will meet in a runoff to determine the nominee for the general election.

With 90% of precincts reporting, Lankford won 68% of the vote, dispatching Tulsa pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, who took 26% of the vote, and Joan Farr, a lawyer who was running in Oklahoma and Kansas, who received 6%.

Lahmeyer, a political newcomer, raised more than $900,000 but burned through much of it on travel for himself and on bringing in speakers aligned with former President Donald Trump, leaving little for media advertising.

Lahmeyer, 30, accused Lankford of being a Republican in name only and criticized him for not agreeing to a debate. Lahmeyer had hoped to get an endorsement from Trump, once even paying to have a campaign message flown over Trump’s hotel in Florida, but the former president stayed out of the race.

Lankford, 54, raised nearly $6 million since his last race in 2016, much of it coming in the past year. He began running television ads early this year

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.”

Lahmeyer 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 first won the seat in a special election in 2014 after Sen. Tom Coburn, a Republican, announced his retirement with two years left on his term. Lankford won his first full term in 2016.

He will be the heavy favorite against whichever Democrat emerges for the Aug. 23 runoff. Neither Democrat has served in elective office.

Horn, 32, of Oklahoma City, is a cybersecurity expert. With 92% of the precincts counted, Horn had 36%. Bollinger, 30, an Oklahoma City lawyer who worked for the U.S. State Department, captured 17%. Six Democrats filed in the race.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: US Sen. Lankford wins Primary nomination, Democrats head for runoff