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U.S. Rep. Steve Russell Blames Changing Demographics in Election Loss to Kendra Horn

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Rep. Steve Russell has blamed his election loss to Democrat Kendra Horn not on shying away from negative ads, but on Millennials.

"Tacitus said, and John F. Kennedy modified the famous quote, 'Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan.' While the loss is certainly mine to bear, anyone supposing it to be some anomaly, simple 'negative ad' explanation, or campaign work ethic charge should wake up to the statistics and the shifting 5th District," Russell wrote.

In a Facebook post reflecting on the election, Russell noted population growth in Oklahoma's fifth has been concentrated in its urban core, Oklahoma City, with 20 percent annual increases in the number of "educated Millennials" living there.

Over the past four years, the number of registered Republican voters in the district grew from 192,000 to 202,000, while the number of registered Democrats and Independents grew from 235,000 to 252,000. And Oklahoma County, representing 90 percent of the electorate, went Democrat in the gubernatorial election by 27,000 votes.

Russell said Millennials are the future of the nation and the state.

"They are attracted to Oklahoma or want to remain. My wife and I raised five of them," Russell wrote. "Time and experience will engage this important population with the values that matter as they marry and raise families. I am optimistic about the potential of our country’s future but saddened by its self-indulgence and lack of respect for one another."

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.