2000Final results
2000 election for Oklahoma's 5th District
U.S. House · Oklahoma
Ernest Istook (R) won with 68.4% of the vote, defeating Garland McWatters (D) by 41.3 points.
Ernest IstookRepublican · winner
68.4%134,159
Garland McWattersDemocrat
27.2%53,275
Bill MaguireIndependent
3.0%5,930
Robert T. MurphyLibertarian
1.4%2,658
196,022 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2000
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Garland McWattersErnest Istook
$23.5K
Raised by the campaign
$620.4K
$28.4K
Spent by the campaign
$520.6K
$0
Cash on hand
$139.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2000.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2000
The candidates
Ernest Istook (R)Garland McWatters (D)
Also on the ballot: Bill Maguire (Independent), 3.0%; Robert T. Murphy (Libertarian), 1.4%