Oklahoma's forty-fifth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Merleyn Bell.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 43,435 civilians reside within Oklahoma's forty-fifth state house district. Oklahoma state representatives represent an average of 37,142 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 34,165 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Representatives may not serve more than 12 consecutive years between both chambers of the Oklahoma State Legislature. Oklahoma legislators assume office November 16th.

Qualifications

Article 5, Section 17 of the Oklahoma Constitution states: "Members of the Senate shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and members of the House of Representatives twenty-one years of age at the time of their election. They shall be qualified electors in their respective counties or districts and shall reside in their respective counties or districts during their term of office."

Salaries

Term limits

The Oklahoma legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Oklahoma Term Limits Act in 1990. That initiative says that Oklahoma state legislators are subject to term limits of no more than 12 years in the Oklahoma State Legislature. These 12 years can be served in any combination of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1990 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2004.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the Governor must call for a special election no later than 30 days after the vacancy happened. No special election can be called if the vacancy happens after March 1st during the year the seat is set to expire.

The person who wins the special election serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 30, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for August 25, 2020. The filing deadline is April 10, 2020.

2018

2016

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 15, 2016.

Incumbent Claudia Griffith defeated Marc Etters in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 general election.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Claudia Griffith ran unopposed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 Democratic primary.
Marc Etters ran unopposed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 Republican primary.

2014

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2014. Incumbent Aaron Stiles was unopposed in the Republican primary, while Claudia Griffith was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Griffith defeated Stiles in the general election.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45 General Election, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 26, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 13, 2011. Incumbent Aaron Stiles (R) defeated Paula Roberts (D) in the general election and defeated Derick Jensen in the Republican primary. Roberts was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 45, General Election, 2012

Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 Republican Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45 raised a total of $3,073,513. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $118,212 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Oklahoma House of Representatives District 45