Republican candidates Craig Allen, Nathan Dahm, Fran Moghaddam, Kenneth Rice, Patrick K. Haworth and Independent Angelia O'Dell all have filed to run against Sullivan.

[3] Sullivan entered the Betty Ford Center in California to receive treatment for his addiction to alcohol on May 28, 2009.

[3] Despite the poor approval ratings of Obama, of whom 27% in this district approve, and the high unpopularity of the Democratic healthcare bills, which were supported by 17% of second district residents, conservative Democrat Boren remains popular.

The seat attracted the attention of several Republican candidates, including State Representative Mike Thompson,[9] former State Representative Kevin Calvey, whom Fallin defeated in the 2006 Republican primary for this seat, physician Johnny Roy, who also ran in 2006,[10] Harry Johnson, Rick Flanigan, Shane Jett and Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma [11] employee James Lankford,[12] as well as Democrats Tom Guild and Billy Coyle.

Ultimately Republican James Lankford and Democrat Billy Coyle won their respective parties' nominations and faced off in the general election in November.