In a significant move, voters in Enid opted to remove a City Council member due to his association with white nationalist groups, with the decision made by a substantial margin on Tuesday. Judd Blevins lost his position on the six-member City Council by 268 votes, as per unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board.
The voter turnout was notable, with nearly 1,400 individuals casting their votes, representing about a quarter of Ward 1's registered voters and significantly more than the turnout in the initial election that brought Blevins to office last year.
Cheryl Patterson, a former teacher and long-time Republican, will take Blevins' place. Patterson campaigned on a platform centered around restoring "normalcy" to the small city, located roughly 100 miles north of Oklahoma City.
Her victory was celebrated by many, including Connie Vickers, a Democrat in conservative Enid, who was among the first to publicly raise concerns about Blevins' ties to white nationalist groups. Vickers expressed, "We won. Blevins lost. Hate lost."
The recall vote against Blevins was initiated after revelations surfaced that he had participated in marches alongside neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, and had led an Oklahoma chapter of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa.
Despite denying being a white supremacist, Blevins defended his actions at a candidate forum, attributing his activism to the same issues that contributed to Donald Trump's election in 2016.
Although Blevins had some support in Enid, particularly among those who knew him personally or admired his actions over the past year, the majority of voters opted for change.
Blevins expressed confidence before the election, but ultimately accepted the outcome, stating that he would not run again and would return to private life.
Patterson's victory represents a desire for a new direction in Enid, one that rejects any association with white nationalism.
Patterson emphasized her long-standing involvement in the community and her commitment to upholding its values. She stated, "Enid is not a town that promotes white nationalism or white supremacy in any way.
And the people are good. And I’m hoping that the results of the election will show that."
The controversy surrounding Blevins had been brewing since 2019 when he was exposed by anti-fascist researchers and media outlets for his involvement with Identity Evropa and participation in white nationalist events.
Despite these revelations, many Enid residents claimed they were unaware of Blevins' background until after he was elected last year.
Patterson's win signals a fresh start for Enid, with a renewed focus on unity and inclusivity.
Her campaign emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in local government, values that resonated with voters seeking change.
As Enid moves forward, the city council can now address pressing issues such as infrastructure and public safety, with a renewed sense of purpose and community.