Grellner secures Senate District 21 seat

Nov. 5—Republican candidate Randy Grellner of Cushing secured the Oklahoma Senate District 21 seat against Democrat Robin Fuxa of Stillwater in Tuesday's voting cycle.

Grellner won with a total of 18,456 votes, or 64.58% of the vote.

Grellner and his supporters were at a watch party at Crossway Church in Cushing on Tuesday.

"I'm humbled by the people of Senate District 21," Grellner said. "I feel like there's a lot of responsibility on my shoulders to perform and to lead this district the way it needs to be led."

Grellner said he thinks the people's values of the district have shown what they want from a senator, and said he's "very proud" of the campaign he and his supporters ran.

"I think we were honest and fair and answered the questions that needed to be answered," Grellner said. "But more than anything, with 23 years of service to the district, people knew who I was, and I think that was important. ... I think they had a history of my values and understood my values over 23 years, and that resonated with the voters."

Grellner received 13,651 votes on Election Day. Early voters cast 4,213 ballots in-person absentee, and 592 were cast via absentee mail.

District 21 had been held previously by Tom Dugger, R-Stillwater. The district includes towns such as Mannford, Cushing, Oilton, Yale, Perkins and most of Stillwater — and covers much of Payne County and parts of Creek County.

Grellner ran his campaign on state issues such as health care, the oil and gas industry and lowering taxes.

"I don't want to come off as arrogant ... this is all about service, this is not about a name or a position," Grellner said. "This is about, 'How do we move the state forward,' so that Oklahoma graduates can have jobs here, and their families can live here and succeed, and we can keep those people in state that have our traditional values. That's how the character of this state will stay like it is."

Fuxa received a total of 10,122 votes, or 35.42% of the vote.

In walk-up voting, Fuxa received 6,615 votes. Early voters cast 2,814 ballots during early voting, and 693 were cast via absentee mail.

Fuxa joined Ranson at Stonecloud Brewing Company on Tuesday evening, and she told the News Press she was "incredibly proud of the campaign" that she had run.

"I'm so grateful to every volunteer who helped in any way, every donor," Fuxa said. "We've moved the needle, and I think that's important. I wish Dr. Grellner the best."

She said that campaigning was "a joyful process."

"I think that's been the most exciting part, is meeting people at their doors, learning their stories," Fuxa said. "And I'll keep advocating."