In Cushing, John Talley trounced state Rep. Greg Babinec. Talley had more than 3,000 votes (61 percent) and avoided a runoff in the three-way race between Babinec and Jason Shilling.

Five lawmakers lost in the primary election, whether by a wide margin or within a few dozen votes, according to election results Tuesday. In the past year, lawmakers faced tough votes on raising taxes to pay for teacher salaries, all while rehabilitating Oklahoma's failed budget.

Several House lawmakers lost their seat or face a dangerous runoff election after Tuesday's primary, capping off a year of exasperated politics focused on money and education.

Broken Arrow lawmaker Kevin McDugle led sheriff's deputy Nick Mahoney by just three votes when the final precinct was reported at 11:30 p.m., more than four hours after polls closed. There are still provisional votes that will be counted on Friday. Provisional votes are ballots cast when poll workers aren't able to verify a voter's eligibility.

Mahoney could also challenge the election result and ask for a recount. However, winning would be a remarkable feat for Mahoney, who suspended his campaign about a month ago so he could take a new job at the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office.

Mahoney said that if Republican voters sent him to the general election, he would resume his campaign.

"If it should be the will of the voters that want me to serve, then I will step up to that challenge," Mahoney said as the votes were counted Tuesday. "Should it be their will that they want Rep. McDugle to continue in that position, that is kind of what I anticipated."