Tulsa’s 2024 municipal elections have concluded with decisive outcomes across multiple council districts and key propositions, marking significant changes and affirmations for the city’s political landscape. Here’s a breakdown of the results from the city council races and propositions on the ballot.
Tulsa Mayoral Race
With all 163 precincts counted, Rep. Monroe Nichols received 18,729 votes, representing 33.10% of the total, while Karen Keith followed closely with 18,457 votes, or 32.62%. They both head to a Nov. 5 runoff.
Nichols had a lead in early voting and Election Day ballots, while Keith received more support via absentee mail. Brent L. VanNorman, another significant candidate, came in third with 18,019 votes, or 31.84%, and will not advance to the runoff. The remaining candidates, including Casey Bradford, Kaleb Hoosier, John Jolley, and Paul Tay, together secured less than 2.5% of the vote.
2024 Tulsa Election | City Council Races
District 1:
Vanessa Hall-Harper won re-election in District 1 with a significant lead, capturing 66.29% of the votes, totaling 2,354 votes. Angela K. Chambers, her challenger, received 33.71% with 1,197 votes. Hall-Harper’s strong performance underscores her continued support and influence in the district.
District 2:
Anthony Archie emerged as the frontrunner with 41.56% of the vote, securing 1,654 votes in a competitive race. Stephanie Reisdorph followed with 19.60%, and Rhene D. Ritter garnered 17.69%. Archie and Stephanie head to Nov. 5 runoff.
District 3:
In a closely contested race, Jackie Dutton won with 53.81% of the vote (1,292 votes), narrowly defeating Susan Frederick, who received 46.19%.
District 4:
Laura Bellis achieved a decisive victory with 76.62% of the vote, totaling 6,384 votes. Aaron Griffith trailed significantly with 23.38%.
District 5:
Karen Gilbert secured a comfortable victory with 64.33% of the vote, amassing 3,075 votes against Alicia Andrews, who obtained 35.67%.
District 6:
Christian Bengel won the district with 69.89% of the vote, a total of 2,091 votes, while Uriah I. Davis received 30.11%.
District 7:
Lori Decter Wright narrowly edged out her opponents with 48.60% of the vote (2,529 votes). Eddie Huff followed closely with 43.72%, and Margie Alfonso lagged behind with 7.69%. Wright and Huff now head into a Nov. 5 runoff.
District 8:
Incumbent Phil Lakin retained his seat with a commanding 68.89% of the vote, totaling 7,193 votes. His opponent, Chris Cone, secured 31.11%. Lakin’s win reaffirms his strong leadership and connection with his constituents.
District 9:
Carol Bush led the pack with 41.85% of the vote, securing 4,318 votes in a multi-candidate race. Jayme Fowler followed with 28.38%, and Julie Dunbar trailed with 16.52%. Bush’s lead, although not a majority, positions her as a strong contender moving forward.
Propositions
Proposition No. 1: 2024 Proposed City Charter Amendment – City Councilors’ Salaries
Voters approved the proposition to amend the city charter regarding councilors’ salaries with 63.39% voting ‘Yes’ (35,278 votes), while 36.61% voted ‘No’ (20,378 votes). This result indicates strong public support for adjusting councilors’ compensation to reflect their duties and responsibilities.
Proposition No. 2: 2024 Proposed City Charter Amendment – City Auditor’s Salary
This proposition also passed, with 57.01% voting ‘Yes’ (31,700 votes) to adjust the city auditor’s salary. A significant portion, 42.99%, opposed the change, but the majority’s decision signals a desire for alignment of the auditor’s compensation with market standards and responsibilities.
Conclusion
The 2024 Tulsa elections highlighted significant voter engagement across various districts, leading to a mix of incumbent victories and fresh faces in the city council. The approved propositions reflect the community’s readiness to support financial adjustments for elected officials, aiming for equitable governance. As Tulsa moves forward, these results will shape the city’s policies and development strategies in the coming years.