2014 Oklahoma City mayoral election

2014 Oklahoma City mayoral election

← 2010 March 4, 2014 2018  →

Nominee Mick Cornett Ed Shadid Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 31,514 15,749 Percentage 65.70% 32.84%

Mayor before election Mick Cornett Nonpartisan Elected Mayor Mick Cornett Nonpartisan

The 2014 Oklahoma City mayoral election took place on March 4, 2014. Incumbent Mayor Mick Cornett, a Republican, ran for re-election to a fourth term. He was challenged by City Councilman Ed Shadid. Cornett remained popular, and was elected to his fourth and final term as Mayor with 66 percent of the vote, avoiding the need for a runoff, and defeating Shadid, who won 33 percent.

Primary election

Candidates

• Mick Cornett, incumbent Mayor ^[1]
• Ed Shadid, City Councilman ^[2]
• Joe Sarge Nelson, retired businessman ^[3]
• Phil Hughes, electrical engineer ^[3]

Campaign

Shadid announced that he would run for Mayor on June 24, 2013, and emphasizing that he would focus his campaign on "honesty, transparency, unprecedented public participation and neighborhood over special interests." ^[2] He criticized Cornett for launching ambitious city projects, like the Oklahoma City Streetcar, without adequate public accountability, and for leaving some neighborhoods behind. ^[4] Cornett launched his campaign for re-election on August 5, 2013, noting that "we're just getting started," and that he would continue to focus on investing in public safety and quality.

The Oklahoman endorsed Cornett for re-election, writing, "A vote for incumbent Mick Cornett would be a vote for continued progress, a sign that residents like the way the city is being run and the way Cornett, as the face of the city, represents us." The paper noted that Cornett was "the latest in a line of great mayors who have helped restore the central city as a hub for entertainment, housing, hotels and the arts." It criticized Shadid, noting that a vote for him "would be an endorsement of negativism, regress, class envy and division." ^[5]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Mick Cornett	Ed Shadid	Joe Sarge Nelson	Phil Hughes	Undecided
SoonerPoll [3]	February 17–19, 2014	980 (LV)	± 3%	64%	19%	6%	2%	9%
SoonerPoll [6]	February 27 – March 1, 2014	513 (LV)	± 4.3%	63%	25%	1%	1%	9%

Results

2014 Oklahoma City mayoral election results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Mick Cornett (inc.)	31,514	65.70%
	Nonpartisan	Ed Shadid	15,749	32.84%
	Nonpartisan	Joe Sarge Nelson	368	0.77%
	Nonpartisan	Phil Hughes	332	0.69%
Total votes			47,963	100.00%

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Crum, William (August 6, 2013). "OKC mayor to seek fourth term, says 'work's not done'". The Oklahoman . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 9A. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
2. >Crum, William (June 25, 2013). "Shadid says he'll run for mayor". The Oklahoman . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 9A. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
3. Elliott, Nathan (February 25, 2014). "Poll: Cornett Leads Shadid By Wide Margin In OKC Mayor's Race". News 9 . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma . Retrieved July 21, 2025.
4. Crum, William (August 16, 2013). "Mayor hopefull kicks off his campaign with rally". The Oklahoman . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 10A. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
5. "Cornett is clear choice in mayoral election". The Oklahoman . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. March 2, 2014. p. 16A. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
6. Elliott, Nathan (March 2, 2014). "OKC Mayor Mick Cornett Holds Lead Over Challengers In New Poll". News 9 . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
7. "CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY - FOR MAYOR CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY". Oklahoma State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2025.