OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republicans in the Oklahoma Senate have selected a veteran senator and cotton farmer from Altus as their choice to lead the caucus next year.
In a closed-door, secret-ballot vote on Wednesday, the 39-member GOP caucus picked Sen. Mike Schulz as the Senate president pro tempore-designee.
Schulz was selected over Sens. Ralph Shortey of Oklahoma City and Marty Quinn of Claremore, who were also vying to replace outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman.
A second caucus vote will be held after the elections in November, and then a final vote will occur on the floor of the Senate in 2017, but those votes are typically a formality.
Schulz says he plans to work to elect Republicans to the state Senate to help ensure his leadership post.