Coburn Wins Senate Seat
November 2, 2004
Continuing a long-running trend of supporting Republicans, Oklahoma elected former three-term GOP Rep. Tom Coburn to the U.S. Senate in a close race against two-term Democrat Rep. Brad Carson.

The costliest race in the state's history was also one in which Coburn, an obstetrician, rallied against allegations that he once sterilized a woman without her permission. The well-known conservative asked voters to send him back to Washington so he could fight big spenders and ensure "that our children and grandchildren have a future."

Coburn branded Carson a liberal and aligned him with prominent Democrats, running ads that showed the Democrat as a puppet with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., pulling the strings.

Coburn replaces Republican Sen. Don Nickles who is retiring after 24 years in office.

Coburn Spends Most of Campaign Money in Final Stretch
October 28, 2004
Update: As the most expensive Senate race in Oklahoma history reaches the home stretch, Republican Tom Coburn has spent down to $60,000 in his campaign bank account, while opponent Democrat Brad Carson has more than ten times that amount.

Oklahoma Senate Candidates Trade Jabs in Two Debates
October 5, 2004
Update: Following a nationally televised exchange on "Meet the Press," the two candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat from Oklahoma squared off Monday night in what one viewer quoted in The Oklahoman called "a civilized brawl."

Candidates Clash Over Voting Records in Tight Okla. Senate Race
September 24, 2004
Update: Two men with very different voting records as congressmen representing the same district are battling for one of the few open seats in the U.S. Senate.