The Evening Star (July 3, 1946)
Gilmer and Turner slated for Oklahoma runoff
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Dixie Gilmer, Tulsa County prosecutor, came from behind in Oklahoma’s Democratic gubernatorial primary today to climb into second place and apparently cinch a place in the July 23 runoff with Roy J. Turner, oil man and rancher.
Mr. Turner’s lead, meanwhile, mounted near the 50,000 mark. As the last precinct counts began to pour in, most of them from Mr. Gilmer’s stronghold, the Tulsan overcame a margin maintained all night by H. C. Jones, former internal revenue collector, who dropped into third place on the basis of returns today.
The latest count from 3,329 of 3,701 precincts gave Mr. Turner 124,214; Mr. Gilmer, 77,077, and Mr. Jones, 71,812.
On the Republican side, Olney P. Flynn, former mayor of Tulsa, oil man and son of a territorial delegate to Congress, apparently had won a clear majority over his two opponents to go directly into the November general election with the Democratic nominee.
Congressional races in Oklahoma produced no surprises. Four incumbents apparently won without the necessity for a runoff. They were Republican George B. Schwabe of Tulsa and Democrat Mike Monroney of Oklahoma City, who won wide majorities over the fields opposing them, while Republican Ross Rizley of Guyman, and Democrat W. G. Stigler of Stigler each won handily over one opponent.
Three other incumbents face runoff opponents. They, with their apparent second-primary foes, are Lyle Boren, incumbent, and Lunsford P. Livingston, real estate man, both of Seminole; Jed Johnson of Anadarko, incumbent, and Toby Morris, Lawton district judge; Victor Wickersham of Mangum, incumbent, and Preston E. Peden of Altus, attorney, all Democrats.
In the hotly fought Democratic race to succeed Rep. Paul Stewart, retiring Democrat, Bill Steger, Durant, and Carl Albert, McAlster, both attorneys, apparently will fight it out in the runoff.