Incumbent Oklahoma delegation holds big financial advantage over opponents

Kevin Eagleson

November 1, 2024

Congressional candidates’ campaign committees submitted their pre-general election financial disclosures showing their contributions and expenditures. Most of Oklahoma’s incumbents are outspending and outraising their opponents from Oct. 1 to Oct. 16.

Most of Oklahoma’s Congressional incumbents are out fundraising their opponents during the final stretch of the campaign. They are also all outspending their opponents.

Why it matters: Candidates campaign committee’s pre-general election filings, disclosing contributions and expenditures from Oct. 1 through Oct. 16, offer an insight into the campaign’s strategy in the final weeks of the campaign.

Key takeaways: Incumbents outraised their challengers by nearly 3 times from Oct 1. to Oct. 16. During the same time period, they outspent their challengers by nearly 11 times.

Tom Cole (R-Moore) is spending nearly as fast as he is raising funds. Close to a third of his donations are over $1,000. His challenger, Democrat Mary Brannon has dropped off of the fundraising map. The donation page on her campaign website states her campaign is “not currently accepting any donations.”
Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma City) is focused on advertising during the final weeks of the campaign. Her campaign has paid BrabenderCox, a political marketing firm based in Virginia, $281,856 for media. Her opponent, Democrat Madison Horn, has also focused on getting her message out, she spent $4,620 on digital messaging in two weeks.
Horn received 702 donations totaling $18,706 during the two weeks; 582 from small donors for $100 or less. Bice received 88, totaling $62,990; 28 for over $1,000.
Democrat Dennis Baker is out fundraising Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Tulsa). Nonetheless, Hern has been outspending Baker. However, most of Hern’s spending has been on fundraising services.
Josh Brecheen’s (R-Ada) fundraising was dwarfed by his fellow incumbents. Overall, very little funding has flowed into the race for the Second Congressional District.

Throughout the 2024 campaign cycle, Oklahoma’s congressional incumbents have a financial advantage over their challengers according to Federal Election Commission disclosures.

Context: Nearly $11 million has been raised by the eight remaining candidates for Oklahoma’s 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Congressional districts throughout the campaign cycle, including the primaries. Almost $9.4 million has been spent by the general election candidates.

Incumbents are outraising their challengers 11 times.
Incumbents are outspending their challengers 13 times.
Brannon and Democrat Brandon Wade have raised less than $15,000 and spent less than $10,000 in total.

Kevin Eagleson is reporting from Gaylord News’ Washington bureau this fall as part of an OU Daily scholarship.

Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News go to GaylordNews.net