Democratic socialist wins primary runoff for Oklahoma Senate

Democratic socialist N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas is projected to win Oklahoma’s Democratic Senate primary to take on Republican nominee Rep. Kevin Hern, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Thomas defeated Democrat Jim Priest, a lawyer, after both advanced from a June runoff where neither candidate secured over half of the vote. Thomas, a nurse, led the pack in the initial June primary with 45 percent of the vote while Priest trailed at roughly 24 percent.

Tuesday’s results mark another win for the left flank of the Democratic Party as democratic socialist and progressive candidates have notched a series of high-profile wins this primary cycle. Last week, state Rep. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist, won the Democratic nomination for Florida Senate.

Yet, the Senate seat left open by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Sooner State is almost certainly set to remain in Republican hands this fall. Oklahoma has not elected a Democrat to the upper chamber since former Sen. David Boren. He served from 1979 to 1994.

The Oklahoman reported earlier this month that Thomas identifies as a democratic socialist and backs policies including Medicare for All and universal childcare.

“They’re wanting a different vision, and I have a different vision as a progressive myself,” she told NonDoc last month. “Most countries that have socialism, they are thriving.”

Priest had argued that a moderate candidate like himself would have performed better in the ruby state come November.

“We’re talking about Oklahoma, and even though [President] Trump’s popularity has declined considerably since the last election, people still are center-road (in their) politics, for the most part,” he told NonDoc. “My personal opinion is that Jasmine Thomas cannot win in the fall, and I can because I will appeal to crossover voters.”