ARDMORE, Okla. -- Politics are on the minds of so many this election year. This week it has certainly been on the minds of candidates. Oklahoma’s three-day filing period for county and state offices closed at five o’clock Wednesday afternoon.

Political junkies have been salivating all week, waiting to see who walks into the election board office and signs their name on the papers. All counties in Oklahoma have four decisions this year: county sheriff, court clerk, county clerk, and county commissioner.

But that does not mean there will be races for all of those things. Often times, nobody runs against the incumbent.

In Carter County, three Democrats have filed to run for sheriff: Ken Grace, Greg Grant, and Dan Childress. No Republican candidate means we could have a winner in that race on July 29th if one candidate gets 51% of the vote. Otherwise they will go to a runoff.

Carter County court clerk Karen Volino will be challenged by Debbie Dowthit, also a Democrat.

In Love County, everyone who filed is a Democrat, with 4 candidates for sheriff, 3 for county clerk, and 2 for the commissioner spot.

Another crowded race is for sheriff in Marshall County. Four gentlemen will appear on the ballot there.

In Pontotoc County, the hot race could be county commissioner, where three candidates have filed papers.

In Johnston County, it looks like Sheriff Tom Winkler will be unopposed. In fact, the only contested race there will be county commissioner.

Bryan County also has 5 candidates in the sheriff’s race, with 2 Democrats, a Republican, and one independent.

Just because these people have declared themselves candidates and paid the filing fee does not make it written in stone. Officials say they have a little time to think about it.

"They have until 5 o'clock Friday to come in and withdraw. They have to fill out a paper that they're withdrawing their name for whatever office they're running for," Helen McReynolds with the Carter County Election Board says.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 48

DEMOCRAT
JOHN MOORE, ARDMORE

REPUBLICAN
PAT OWNBEY, ARDMORE
MATT CUNNINGHAM, ARDMORE

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 49

DEMOCRAT
TERRY HYMAN (I), LEON

REPUBLICAN
SEAN OLIVER, MADILL

But the race that everyone has been talking about is for a state representative spot. Greg Piatt is a Republican. He has been in the State House for awhile. Piatt has announced that he will not seek re-election.

We won't know until November who will take his place. Right now, one Democrat, Ardmore city commissioner John Moore, has filed to run. Two Republicans are running as well, Pat Ownbey and Matt Cunningham.

For District 49, Democrat Terry Hyman is the incumbent and will try to retain his seat he is challenged by Republican Sean Oliver of Madill.

Those are just highlights of some of the races in our area. We will be bringing you much more coverage of the races in your hometown in the coming months.