Seat in Oklahoma Senate will remain in GOP Control

(AP) - A state Senate seat vacated by now-U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice will remain in GOP control. Republican Jake Merrick easily won the Senate District 22 special election Tuesday. He defeated Democrat Molly Ooten with more than 65% of the vote. The heavily Republican district stretches across parts of north Oklahoma City, Edmond, Piedmont and Yukon. Merrick is a conservative Republican who has opposed coronavirus-related shutdowns and wants to make abortion illegal in Oklahoma. He will serve the remainder of Bice's term, which expires in 2022.