2 Democrats Vying For Open Tulsa County Commission Seat

An open seat on the Tulsa County Commission has drawn attention as Commissioner Karen Keith steps down to run for Tulsa mayor. Tonight, voters will decide which two candidates will advance to the general election in November.

Two Democrats, Maria Barnes and Sarah Gray, are facing off in today’s runoff. Despite being from the same party, they bring very different experiences to the race.

Sarah Gray, a newcomer to Tulsa’s political scene, has a background as a community advocate and communications professional. She is hosting a watch party at the Belafonte Event Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

"We are on the phones nonstop. We've been calling and texting everyone, making sure that people remember to get out to the polls this evening. The feedback has been wonderful. Honestly, this entire election season has been incredible. We've just had nothing but positive feedback and so much support from the community, and we're really grateful," Gray said earlier today.

Maria Barnes, in contrast, is a well-known figure in Tulsa, having served on the City Council from 2006 to 2008 and again from 2009 to 2011. While she is not holding a watch party, Barnes remains engaged with her supporters and plans to address them later in the evening.

We anticipate hearing from Maria Barnes after the polls close, around 7 p.m.

Gray’s watch party will be a joint event with City Council candidate Laura Bellis, and both are expected to speak shortly after the polls close at 7 p.m.

As Tulsa residents await the results, the focus is on who will move forward to the November election for a chance to shape the future of the Tulsa County Commission.