Tedford wins Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District seat

Republican Mark Tedford won Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Democrat John Croisant in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern.

Hern vacated the seat after winning election to the U.S. Senate the same night, as reported by the Tulsa Flyer.

Tedford, a Jenks insurance executive and state legislator, declared victory after 9 p.m. on election night. The Tulsa World called the 5.09-point margin the narrowest in the district since the Republican winning streak began in 1986.

Results at 94% of precincts reporting

These totals are unofficial and reflect 94% of precincts reporting as of Tedford's victory declaration on election night, according to the Tulsa Flyer. Final certified results from the Oklahoma State Election Board were not available as of publication.

How the race shaped up

Croisant, a Tulsa Public Schools board member and former teacher who owns an insurance business, raised about $217,000 in contributions between January 2025 and Oct. 14. Tedford raised nearly $2.5 million over the same period, including more than $1.5 million in personal loans and about $900,000 in contributions, the Tulsa Flyer reported.

Before his victory speech, Tedford told the Tulsa Flyer he believed voters responded to his campaign because they are tired of "partisan politics."

"I think my message of being a statesman and tackling some of the everyday issues was what they want to hear," Tedford said.

Tedford said he sees himself as a continuation of Hern "in many ways" but that he will have his own policy positions.

The district, which covers the Tulsa area in northeastern Oklahoma, has sent a Republican to Congress in every election since 1986.