Palin-backed Mary Fallin wins big in Oklahoma

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U.S. Representative Mary Fallin cruised to victory Tuesday, winning the GOP nomination for governor in a landslide. Fallin, who was called back to Washington before the polls opened to cast a vote on a military funding bill, wasn't able to vote for herself but captured 59 percent of the vote in the GOP primary. Her nearest rival won 34 percent, and two other challengers were in the single digits.

Fallin is a two-term congresswoman who served twelve years as the Sooner State's lieutenant governor, and she has the endorsement of the first woman to be the Republican Party's candidate for vice president. Sarah Palin sent her congratulations to Rep. Fallin via Twitter, encouraging the GOP nominee with, "We can see November from our house!"

Like Gov. Palin, Falin has also made some history. She is the first Republican and first woman to be elected lieutenant governor since Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907. If Fallin wins in November, she will make more history by becoming the state's first woman governor.

- JP