Oklahoma's twenty-third state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Lonnie Paxton.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 80,676 civilians reside within Oklahoma's twenty-third state senate district. Oklahoma state senators represent an average of 78,153 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 71,889 residents.

About the office

Members of the Oklahoma State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits. 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 senators are subject to term limits of no more than twelve years in the Oklahoma State Legislature. These 12 years can be served in any combination of the Oklahoma 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 senate, 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 only exception to the March 1st deadline is for Senators who resign with two or more years left in their term during an election year. If the resignation was announced before June 1st and the effective date is scheduled for after the general election, a special election can be called.

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

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Oklahoma State Senate 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.

2016

Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate 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 Ron Justice (R) did not seek re-election.

Lonnie Paxton defeated Larry Wasson in the Oklahoma State Senate District 23 general election.

Oklahoma State Senate, District 23 General Election, 2016

Larry Wasson ran unopposed in the Oklahoma State Senate District 23 Democratic primary.
Lonnie Paxton and Matt Stacy defeated Kevin Crow in the Oklahoma State Senate District 23 Republican primary.

Oklahoma State Senate, District 23 Republican Primary, 2016

Lonnie Paxton defeated Matt Stacy in the Oklahoma State Senate District 23 Republican primary runoff.

Oklahoma State Senate, District 23 Republican Primary Runoff, 2016

2012

Elections for the office of Oklahoma State Senate 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, 2012. Incumbent Ron Justice (R) ran unopposed in the general election. Justice was unchallenged in the June 26 Republican primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Oklahoma State Senate District 23 raised a total of $805,160. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $47,362 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Oklahoma State Senate District 23