By Associated Press/KWGS News
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. governor's race changes political landscape
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The top candidates for Oklahoma's open governor's post each gave up political offices they likely could have successfully defended. They'll discover Tuesday whether their gambles paid off.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins each gave up a statewide seat in hopes of keeping the governorship in Democrats' hands.
Republican front-runners in the bid to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Brad Henry are U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin and state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso.
By throwing open the four seats, the major candidates for governor already have shaken up Oklahoma's political landscape.
Democrats hope changing demographics can help them claim Fallin's seat, but Republicans say an anti-Washington backlash could help them to a statewide sweep of major offices in 2010.