Oklahoma School Superintendent Race Called A Dead Heat

A News On 6 poll shows the race for state school superintendent is a dead heat. Polls show Joy Hofmeister and John Cox are just two points apart, and that's within the margin of error.

Joy Hofmeister defeated incumbent Janet Barresi in the primary. The Jenks resident was a member of the state school board before she resigned last spring because of conflicts with Barresi.

Hofmeister spent part of her day campaigning with school children and parents at 97th and Riverside.

She'll also visit the Republican Women's Club watch party in Tulsa before heading to Oklahoma City to join other Republicans as they watch the results come in.

Related Story 10/30/2014: EXCLUSIVE POLL: Hofmeister, Cox In Dead Heat For State Superintendent

Hofmeister says it's been a competitive race but she believes she's the best candidate for the job.

"What's at stake is leadership that's going to be able to get something done," she said.

"We need to be able to have traction and actually get accomplished what our students need, less testing, we need higher teacher compensation, we need supports in the classroom so that dollars make their way there."

Hofmeister says she traveled over 80,000 miles on the campaign trail and is excited to see what happens tonight.

Candidate John Cox is at his Muskogee watch party Tuesday night. The Democrat in the state schools superintendent race is optimistic about his chances of winning.

Cox cast his ballot at the community center in Peggs in Cherokee County this morning. Then he went back to work at Peggs Public Schools where he's the superintendent.

He says working in a small district gives him an advantage because he works in every area in public schools.

"I believe we're going to win because right now we're neck and neck in urban areas and the rural areas are really strong for me, and Oklahomans are really saying they want a school superintendent to be their next state superintendent," Dr. Cox said.

Cox says regardless of the outcome, he thinks his campaign has really got people engaged in discussing the needs of public education in Oklahoma.

If he's elected, Cox says his first priority is to return a positive climate to education.