Republican Jim Bridenstine captures District 1 Congressional seat

TULSA - The new Congressman-elect for District 1 is Jim Bridenstine, who joined 2NEWS Today Wednesday just hours after defeating challengers John Olsen and Craig Allen.

The polls closed, leaving the Republican Bridenstine with 63 percent of the vote.

A Jenks High School graduate, Bridenstine received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Rice and Cornell Universities. 

He's retired from active duty but Bridenstine continues to serve as a pilot in the U.S. Navy Reserve. 

He's a former director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.

In Congress, Bridenstine wants to add a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution and a tax code overhaul, a "human life amendment" to the U.S. Constitution and no tax money for abortion and a "one man, one woman" amendment to the U.S. Constitution with regard to marriage.

He also promises to vote to repeal ObamaCare.

Bridenstine's closest competitor, Olson, came away with only 32 percent of the vote.

A former Army drill sergeant, Olson said he and his supporters kept the campaign positive and made a difference.  He said he and Bridenstine are both veterans and they have esteem for each other.

"We did keep it focused on the differences of opinion we had on the issues themselves and we focused on those," said Olson.  "And at least this time around the voters didn't agree with me, (but) I think we opened a lot of people's eyes to what it means to be a Democrat in this state."

Taking the loss somewhat harder was Olson's 8-year-old daughter, who was in tears during the watch party Tuesday night.  But Olson says he'll make it up to her with a trip to the theater to see "Wreck-it Ralph."

Bridenstine fills the seat of Rep. John Sullivan who lost his bid for re-election in the May primary.

Hear what Bridenstine had to say the day after his win in the video above or in the videos section of your mobile app.