Terry Neese, Stephanie Bice head to Oklahoma GOP runoff

Oklahoma businesswoman Terry Neese (R) and state Sen. Stephanie Bice (R) will head to a runoff to determine who will face Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.) in November.

Neese was leading with 36 percent of the vote in the Republican primary on Tuesday, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press. Bice followed with 25 percent.

The candidates are advancing to a runoff after falling short of the 50 percent threshold needed to win the primary Tuesday. The runoff is set for Aug. 25.

The general election race in Oklahoma’s 5th District is expected to be one of the most contested in the battle for control of the House this year. 

Horn flipped the seat in 2018 after defeating then-Rep. Steve Russell (R) by fewer than 4,000 votes. Before Horn, Republicans held the district for more than 40 years. The Cook Political Report rates the November race a “toss up.”

The first-term Democrat has accumulated a hefty campaign account of $2.3 million in anticipation of a tough battle to retain her seat.

Updated at 11:36 p.m.