Deevers, Bush to face off in December’s Senate District 32 race

Republican Dusty Deevers and Democrat Larry Bush will vie for the Senate District 32 seat in December, after winning their primaries Tuesday.

Bush received 73.35 percent of the votes cast in the Democratic race, where he was one of two candidates vying for the nomination. On the Republican side, Deevers took 37.08 percent of the votes in a four-candidate race and won the right to proceed to the Dec. 12 general election because there is not a runoff in this special election. December’s winner will be sworn into office in a ceremony tentatively set for Dec. 20, State Senate officials have said.

On the Democratic side, Bush won 922 votes, or 73.35 percent of the total cast. His opponent Johnny Jernigan won 335 votes, or 26.65 percent of the 1,257 total cast.

Bush said he’s ready to continue the fight to win the Senate 32 seat.

“First, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior because without him, nothing would be possible,” Bush said, adding he also credits Johnny Jernigan for running a clean campaign where issues were debated.

Those discussions will continue, Bush said, adding his focus will remain on three important issues: Lawton Public Schools, rooting out corruption in Oklahoma City, and health care. He also said while he loves being a businessman, his most important role is being a father and a focus on family is vital.

“I’ll continue to fight for Southwest Oklahoma like it was my own family,” he said, adding his campaign strategy for the next phase of his race is working even harder to reach as many people as possible.

How does Bush rate his changes of a Democrat taking the Senate 32 seat?

“I think the people of Southwest Oklahoma have the last and final say,” he said. “I will continue to fight for issues important to them.”

Jernigan, who was the Democratic candidate who ran against former Sen. John Michael Montgomery in the November 2022 general election, was disappointed in the results and the voter turnout. And, he was critical of the negative tone that he said was taken by candidates on both sides.

“I tried to call Larry Bush and he didn’t answer. That tells constituents all they need to know,” Jernigan said. “I think it’s sad, so much negativity. That’s all I’ve seen from the Deevers campaign.”

Jernigan said he believes candidate negativity affected the race, and he said he blames the media and campaign consultants, as well as funding donated by third parties. Constituents are the losers, he said.

“It’s the opposite of democracy because it all came down to who spent the most money,” he said.

On the Republican side, Deevers beat his nearest challenger (Dr. Jean Hausheer) by 239 votes to take the Republican nomination. Deevers won 1,416 votes, or 37.08 percent, compared to Hausheer’s 1,177 or 30.82 percent. JJ Francais won 725 votes, or 18.98 percent, while Jennifer. Ellis won 501 votes, or 13.12 percent. In total, 3,819 Republicans cast ballots for Senate District 32.

Attempts to reach Deevers for comment were unsuccessful.

Hausheer was disappointed in Tuesday’s results.

“I’m very proud of the campaign we ran,” she said. “We were the only candidate who did not sling mud at others. And, I wish Mr. Deevers well.”

Hausheer said she believes negative campaigning affected voter numbers, saying there was so much negativism, “people didn’t want to turn out.”

Francais declined comment, while Ellis did not return a call seeking comment.