DUNCAN — The focus of future area representation in the state legislature falls squarely on Republican voters in most of Duncan and Stephens County Tuesday.

Candidates in the Oklahoma Primary Election seek open seats in both the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Peggy Davenport of Duncan, Clark Southard of Duncan, Corey Brooks of Washington and Ron Magar of Newcastle all seek the vacant Senate District 43 seat while Julie McKinney of Central High, Scott Biggs of Chickasha and Glyn Byte of Blanchard all seek the empty House District 51 seat.

At stake in both races is a local voice in state government.

Unless a candidate in either race wins an outright majority of votes Tuesday, a runoff will be held Aug. 28 in either or both races.

Other races on the Republican ballot will pit incumbent U.S. Congressman Tom Cole against Gary D. Caissie in a Fourth District primary and incumbent Bob Anthony against Brooks Mitchell in a statewide Corporation Commission primary.

The only race on the Democratic ballot pits Bert Smith against Donna Marie Bebo in a party primary for the U.S. Congressional seat from District Four.

All 28 Stephens County precincts will be open Tuesday. Voting begins at 7 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m.

Early voting through 1 p.m. Saturday generated 119 votes. A final opportunity to vote early is scheduled Monday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Stephens County Election Board on the ground floor of the Stephens County Courthouse.

Winners of the party primaries and runoffs advance to the general election Nov. 6.

The Senate District 43 and House District 51 races have attracted the most attention locally.

State Sen. Greg Childers won an abbreviated seat in a special District 43 election made necessary when incumbent Jim Reynolds resigned after being named Cleveland County treasurer. Reapportionment, prompted by a shift in population and identified in the 2010 U.S. Census. altered district boundaries and eliminated Childers from re-election because of residency requirements.

Southard, Davenport, Magar and Brooks all entered the race and have campaigned for months in seeking the office.

The multi-county district represents most of Stephens County, all of McClain County and parts of Grady and Garvin County.

The heaviest voter concentration is in McClain and Stephens Counties. All of McClain County is in District 43. The county has 20,604 registered voters. Of that number, 9,504 are Republicans. Most of Stephens County is in the district. The county has 25,713 registered voters. Of that number, 9,700 are Republicans. And of that number, 7,285 are in the district. There are 829 Republicans in the District from Garvin County; 724 from Grady County.

Davenport owns an insurance agency. Southard is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. Magar has been an engineer with The Boeing Co. And Brooks is a rancher and ex-Navy officer.

While the open Senate seat was expected, the late change in House District 51 was a surprise.

State Rep. Corey Holland accepted a principal’s position in the Cache school system days prior to the end of the qualifying period, causing potential candidates to piece together quickly their campaign organizations.

McKinney, Biggs and Byte entered the race.

Much of the voting base is in Grady County, though Stephens County support has been traditionally strong.

There are 30,913 registered voters in Grady County. Of that number, 13,163 are Republicans and of that number, 6,188 are in the district. Of the 25,713 registered voters in Stephens County, 9,700 are Republicans and of that number,. 2,469 are in the district.

McKinney is mayor of Central High. Biggs is an attorney. And Byte is a counselor.

Eventual Republican winners face Democratic opposition in November.

State Rep. Dennis Johnson of District 50, a Republican, is not opposed.

Cole in not expected to be challenged seriously for re-election to Congress though he will face the Democratic primary winner in November. Anthony, the longtime commissioner, is favored but could be tested by Mitchell in the only statewide race.