Oklahoma Primary Facts and Figures

Compiled by the U.S. News & World Report library staff

Presidential Primary Winners

Democrats

• 1988: Al Gore
• 1992: Bill Clinton
• 1996: Bill Clinton
• 2000: Al Gore
• 2004: Wesley Clark

Republicans

• 1988: George H. W. Bush
• 1992: George H. W. Bush
• 1996: Bob Dole
• 2000: George W. Bush
• 2004: George W. Bush

Sources: Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, Oklahoma State Election Board

January 2008 Voter Registration Data

(As of January 15)

Registered voters: 2,022,537

• Registered Democrats: 1,012,594 (50.07% of total)
• Registered Republicans: 790,713 (39.10% of total)
• Independent: 219,230 (10.84% of total)

Source: Oklahoma State Election Board

General Election Winners — 1988-2004

• 1988: George H. W. Bush
• 1992: George H. W. Bush
• 1996: Bob Dole
• 2000: George W. Bush
• 2004: George W. Bush

Sources: Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, Oklahoma State Election Board

Exit Poll Demographics

2004 General Election

Sex

• Male: 48%
• Female: 52%

Race

• White: 77%
• African-American: 9%
• Latino: 4%
• Asian: 1%

Age

• 18-29: 19%
• 30-44: 27%
• 45-59: 28%
• 60 and older: 26%

White Evangelical/Born Again

• Yes: 44%
• No: 56%

Source: CNN.com

3 Things You Didn't Know about Oklahoma Primaries

1. Until relatively recently, Oklahoma made its choice of presidential candidate in caucuses run by the state's political parties. Primaries were established in 1988, following a change in state law that was meant to get voters involved in the election more directly and to encourage candidates to visit the state. George H. W. Bush and Al Gore were the winners in the inaugural Oklahoma primary.

2. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark won the Oklahoma Democratic primary in 2004. It was the first election he had won in his life, and it would be the only state he carried that year: He dropped out of the race entirely about a week later.

3. In 1962, Henry Bellmon was elected the first Republican governor in Oklahoma history. Prior to that time, the governor's mansion was so strongly held by Democrats that their party's primary was seen as the real election contest. It was widely assumed that their nominee would be the victor in November.

Sources:
CNN.com
New York Times
The Oklahoman
Tulsa World