The 1970 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Democrat David Hall narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Dewey F. Bartlett, a result that was not clear for 21 days as a ballot recount was conducted. American Party candidate Reuel Little, who had helped form the party to back the 1968 presidential campaign of George Wallace, received over 24 thousand votes, dwarfing the difference between Hall and Bartlett. This election is the only time that an incumbent Governor of Oklahoma lost re-election.
Primary election
Primary elections were held on August 25, 1970 with runoffs occurring on September 15, 1970.
Republican party
As a result of the passage of State Question No. 436 in 1966, governors became eligible for reelection to successive terms. Thus eligible for reelection, incumbent governor Dewey F. Bartlett was renominated without opposition.
Democratic party
David Hall received the most votes in the regular primary by a wide margin, but narrowly failed to secure an outright majority, forcing a runoff with Bryce Baggett.
Candidates
- Bryce Baggett, member of Oklahoma Senate
- Joe Cannon, former Commissioner of Public Safety
- Wilburn Cartwright, member of Oklahoma Corporation Commission
- David Hall, former district attorney for Tulsa County
General election
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Beaver
- Beckham
- Caddo
- Cimarron
- Creek
- Dewey
- Osage
- Pottawatomie
- Roger Mills
- Rogers
- Seminole
- Texas
- Wagoner
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican