Result
Republican Chris White won Oklahoma State House District 1 after defeating George Phipps in the Aug. 25 Republican primary runoff. White faced no general election opponent and was elected to succeed state Rep. Eddy Dempsey (R-OK), who did not seek reelection.
White defeated Phipps with 1,906 votes, or 52.2%, compared with Phipps' 1,748 votes, or 47.8%. His 158-vote victory secured the seat because no other candidate qualified for the general election.
Four candidates initially contested the Republican nomination in the June 16 primary. White led with 1,757 votes, or 40.7%, followed by Phipps with 1,424 votes, or 33%. Wes Watson received 626 votes, or 14.5%, and Austin Loard received 511 votes, or 11.8%. Because no candidate won a majority, White and Phipps advanced to the August runoff
Candidates and platforms
White emphasized roads and bridges, property taxes and water testing during a candidate forum, according to the Poteau Daily News. White previously served as a McCurtain County commissioner, giving him local government experience before his election to the state Legislature. His campaign focused on infrastructure and local concerns in southeastern Oklahoma.
District and chamber
Oklahoma House District 1 includes portions of Le Flore and McCurtain counties in southeastern Oklahoma, including Broken Bow, Idabel, Talihina and Valliant. Dempsey has represented the district since 2020 but announced in December 2025 that he would not seek reelection. Dempsey's legislative work has focused on wildlife conservation, hunting, outdoor recreation and transportation. His departure changes representation but not party control, with White succeeding a fellow Republican.
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