GOP incumbents voted out in Oklahoma after voting against teacher raises

Nine Republican Oklahoma state representatives who voted against tax hikes to fund teacher pay raises were either vanquished in primaries on Tuesday or forced into runoff elections against GOP challengers. 

Out of the 10 Republican lawmakers that voted against the tax increases in March, two — Reps. Chuck Strohm and Scott McEachin — were defeated outright in their Tuesday night primary races, according to The Associated Press. 

Another seven representatives were thrust into August runoff elections against other Republicans.

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Four other GOP incumbents lost their primaries, including one who was defeated by a teacher seeking the office, according to the AP. 

Nearly 100 public school teachers and administrators were on Oklahoma primary ballots Tuesday night.

Oklahoma state lawmakers voted in March to approve the state’s largest tax hike in more than two decades to give teachers a pay increase and ward off a walkout. 

The tax package is expected to raise more than $445 million in new revenue for the state.

The threatened teacher walkout and tax measure came as educators in several states, like West Virginia and Colorado, launched strikes and protests to demand raises.