Norman Democrat John Sparks was elected Tuesday to fill the state Senate District 16 seat vacated by the term-limited Cal Hobson, D-Lexington. Republican Scott Martin will fill the seat being vacated by Doug Miller, R-Norman.

Sparks and Martin, political newcomers, will join incumbents Bill Nations, Randy Terrill and a returning Wallace Collins who defeated two-term Rep. Thad Balkman in Cleveland County’s legislative delegation, voters decided Tuesday.

• State Senate 16

A jubilant Sparks said he overcame some “urban myths” to soundly win the Senate District 16 race, after a hotly contested three-way Democratic primary and runoff.

The Norman attorney beat Republican Ron Davis of Purcell by 10,986 to 7,871.

“This has gone as well as I could have hoped,” he said at a packed watch party at Texadelphia in Norman. “This has been a long road, one that we started two years ago tonight. … It’s been fun and hard work and we learned a lot.”

Sparks thanked his wife, business partners and volunteers.

“I have been the luckiest guy in the world,” he said for the support he’d received.

Sparks won Cleveland County by 9,900 to 6,576 votes or a 60 percent margin.

In McClain County, Davis edged Sparks by a vote of 1,295 to 1,086.

Sparks said several issues really resonated with voters and that people believe the state can do better in many different ways.

“I think people are really concerned about health care in this state,” he said.

He said he’s hopeful they can raise the minimum wage and make sure there are enough prison guards for Oklahoma’s inmate population.

• State Senate 24

In one of the closest races in the state, Senate District 24 which pitted incumbent Democrat Daisy Lawler of Comanche against Moore Republican Anthony Sykes was still too close to call late Tuesday.