Election results for contested Oklahoma Supreme Court seats

Two of three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices, hit by a steady stream of negative publicity and heavy spending by dark money groups, appeared to have narrowly avoided being voted out by voters.

With all districts reporting, James Edmondson and Noma Gurich were retained on the bench for six more years by razor-thin margins. If the number of votes is correct, Yvonne Kauger will retire after 40 years on the field.

As of 10:30 p.m., unofficial results showed Edmondson remaining in office with just over 51% of the vote. Gurich had 50.25%. Kauger's race was similarly close, but in the other direction; About 50.26% of voters chose to replace her.

The three were all appointed by Democratic governors. Kauger and Gurich are two of the three women currently on the court.

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Normally a nonpartisan affair, this year's judicial retention vote turned into a costly political battle.

Four dark money groups — two focused on defeating the judges and two working to defend them — spent more than $3.5 million on the competition. Gov. Kevin Stitt joined the effort to oust the judges and potentially reestablish the state's highest civil court. Justices cannot actively work to retain votes, but each of them told The Oklahoman in the weeks leading up to the race that they were concerned about politics entering the election.

Supreme Court Justice Noma Gurich, who served on the court for 11 years, said voters should decide whether or not to retain judges based on judges' qualifications, not politics. “The fact is that a nonpartisan election has become a partisan election, and that is in no one’s best interest,” she said.

The conservative Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and the Oklahoma State Chamber have complained for years that the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decisions are too liberal. Decisions related to issues such as abortion, tort reform and state-tribal relations all drew criticism, with some saying the court's rulings did not reflect Oklahoma.

Supporters of the justices, including the leaders of five of the state's most powerful tribal nations, pushed back against claims that the court is liberal and activist.

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