Pae, Caldwell Win Reelection as Southwest Oklahoma Legislative Races Settle

Southwest Oklahoma voters have finished filling out the region’s legislative roster. Rep. Daniel Pae won another term in House District 62 with 53.52% over Democrat Blake Munoz, while Rep. Trey Caldwell posted a commanding 75.01% win in House District 63 against Democrat Shykiria Smith. Democrat Kathy Suttles took House District 64 with 54.18%, and Republican Curtis Erwin won the three-way Senate District 32 race at 53.12%.

The margins tell part of the story: Caldwell’s win was decisive, Pae’s was competitive, and the region sent a mix of parties to Oklahoma City. But the bigger picture is what these lawmakers will do when session opens in February. Pae, first elected in 2018 and now assistant majority whip, has named elder care as his centerpiece issue. He wants to examine consolidating the state’s aging and disability services divisions, pointing to a retiring baby boomer generation and the care demands that come with it. He’s also prioritizing access to affordable child care, a cost that weighs heavily on military families around Fort Sill.

Caldwell returns to the Capitol with budget committee leadership on his resume, giving Comanche County a strong seat at the table when state dollars get divided. Those committee assignments will be finalized before February, and the decisions made there will shape health care, child care, and state spending for years.

What issue do you most want our local legislators to tackle in February? Let us know.