Update: 9:21 p.m.:
With 69 percent of the vote in, and with Monroe at over 56%, he has claimed victory in the Tulsa mayoral election. Certification of the results will make him the first Black mayor in the city’s history and over 103 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre.
In an acceptance speech, Nichols said he wants to move forward in a nonpartisan manner to make Tulsa the best city in the nation.
“A victory alone does not guarantee that our challenges are behind us, but it does provide us with the greatest gift we could ever ask, for the opportunity to move beyond them, the opportunity not to be defined by our past, but together build a brighter future,” Nichols said.
“Let the word go forth across the country tonight. On the grounds of greatness, we proclaim that Tulsa is a city on the move.”
Update: 8:47:
With 65 of 163 precincts reporting (39.88%), Nichols maintains a lead of 58.35% compared to 41.65% for Keith.
Update: 8:24 p.m.:
Roughly 27 percent of the vote has now come in, and it continues to look good for Nichols. He’s up 58.5% compared to Keith’s 41.5%.
Update: 8:07 p.m.:
With nearly 19% of the vote and 31 precincts reporting, Nichols has maintained his lead with 58.62% of the vote so far.
Update 7:58 p.m.:
Nichols ahead in first batch of election day votes
The first batch of votes coming in from Tulsa County Election Board shows Nichols ahead with 57% of the vote, with just eight precincts out of 163 reporting.
Update 7:30 p.m:
Monroe Nichols ahead with early, absentee votes
According to results from the Tulsa County Election Board, Monroe Nichols has won a majority of early and absentee votes. He’s taken 56.44% of early votes compared to 43.56% for Karen Keith.
Update: 7:20 p.m.
High energy at Monroe Nichols watch party
Less than half an hour after polls closed at 7 p.m. in Oklahoma, the Associated Press has already called the state’s seven electoral votes for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Yet in Tulsa, the Greenwood Cultural Center is swarming with energy and support for Democratic Tulsa Mayoral Candidate Monroe Nichols.
A video below shows the energy in the room.
Update: 7:04 p.m:
As polls close in Oklahoma, supporters of Tulsa mayoral candidate Monroe Nichols express why they support him.
Marvina is a Tulsa transplant who says she’s anticipating positive results for Nichols and hopes he will follow through on his pledge. In July, she and her dog were attacked by two stray pit bulls. Her dog didn’t survive.
“I had a conversation with Mr. Nichols about his plan to address the issues all throughout Tulsa, and he said that is definitely an agenda item that he’s going to make a part of its administration. So, I’m really excited to hear about that and help in any way,” Marvina said.
Erica Foshemoore wasn’t planning to get involved with the political event until her 13-year-old son Trevor started canvassing for Nichols. Trevor’s determination to get out the vote and reach neighbors inspired his mother.
“I’m absolutely proud of him,” Foshemoore said. “He is far more brave than I am in doing anything like this.”
Tim Hugo said he’s excited to see a qualified Black man enter the Tulsa Mayor’s Office.
“I believe he’s a man of his word. He has a good upbringing, highly educated, very qualified. I believe that he will carry out his campaign promises,” Hugo said.
GREENWOOD Dist.–As millions of Americans anxiously wait for the presidential election results, a local election in Tulsa could result in history by electing Monroe Nichols as the first Black mayor in the city’s 126-year history.
Supporters of Monroe Nichols started filtering into the Greenwood Cultural Center for a 6 p.m. watch party. R&B tunes from DJ Ramal Brown and the pitter patter of caterers plating tables permeated the building with positivity as the Tulsa County Election Board prepares to certify results.
With polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will decide to either elect Monroe Nichols, an eight-year state representative or Karen Keith, a 16-year Tulsa County Commissioner. Both Democrats, a series of town halls during the campaign trail have illuminated stark differences for voters.
Tulsa Mayoral Election Results Tonight
Nichols, with proposals for addressing homelessness, education, equity and public safety, has been endorsed by high-profile community and faith leaders, former mayors and the Tulsa World.
Keith, meanwhile, has focused on touting her relationships and her efforts to establish the new Family Center for Juvenile Justice. The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed her.
Monroe has painted Keith as a person without a plan who failed to protect children who faced sexual abuse at the juvenile center. As a Tulsa County Commissioner overseeing the juvenile facility, Keith is a named defendant in a lawsuit alleging officials failed to intervene.
Keith also faces a cease and desist order from a local photographer who says the Keith campaign used one of her photos in an attack ad without her permission, consent or compensation.
For her part, Keith has painted Nichols as someone whose soft on crime seeking power for himself. Ultimately, Tuesday’s election results will reveal where voters stand.
Follow along for tonight’s live coverage of the Tulsa Mayoral Election Results.
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