A look at the incoming class of state legislators (Capitol Update)

This year’s elections have produced an interesting mix of new legislators. The incoming Senate class is unusually large, while the new House members form a somewhat average-sized class. There is always a degree of excitement in meeting the new members and watching them adjust to their new surroundings and duties.

These new legislators will begin their service with new leadership in both chambers and a governor in the last two years of his second term. Here’s a list of new members of the 60th Oklahoma legislature. 

Incoming class of new Senators:

  • Julie McIntosh, R-Porter, a physician replaces Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, whom she defeated in a run-off election.
  • Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, co-owner of Blanchard Drug and Gift that she runs with her husband, Sen. Rob Standridge, will succeed her husband who is term-limited. 
  • Randy Grellner, R-Cushing, a physician, former member of the Cushing School Board and appointee of Gov. Kevin Stitt to the State Board of Health, replaces Sen. Tom Dugger who chose not to run for re-election.
  • Christie Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, a businesswoman and vice mayor of Broken Arrow will replace Sen. Nathan Dahm who is term-limited. 
  • Kendal Sacchieri, R-Blanchard, who is the McClain County Assessor, will replace Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, whom she defeated in the Republican primary election.
  • Kelly Hines, R-Oklahoma City, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, will replace Senate President Pro Tempore, Greg Treat who is term-limited.
  • Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, an insurance agency owner and former member and vice chair of the Oklahoma City School Board, replaces Sen. Kay Floyd who is term-limited.
  • Brian Guthrie, R-Bixby, a real estate broker and mayor of Bixby, replaces Sen. Joe Newhouse who chose not to run for re-election.
  • Aaron Reinhardt, R-Jenks, a commercial insurance agency manager, will replace Sen. Cody Rogers whom he defeated in the Republican primary. Rogers at first announced he was planning to run for Tulsa County Commissioner but changed his mind and ran for re-election. 
  • Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada, who served 19 years in the Oklahoma National Guard, will replace former Senate President Pro Tempore-designate Greg McCortney whom he defeated in the Republican primary.
  • Spencer Kern, R-Duncan, a farmer/rancher and businessman will replace Sen. Chris Kidd who chose not to run for re-election.
  • Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, an Oklahoma City Councilwoman, will replace Sen. George Young who resigned his seat mid-term.
  • Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, who is currently a member of the House first elected in 2015, will replace Sen. Kevin Matthews who is term-limited. Goodwin will be eligible to serve one term in the Senate.  
  • Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, who previously served six years in the House of Representatives before running unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd Congressional District, will replace Sen. Dewayne Pemberton who chose not to run for re-election. Frix was elected without opposition. 
  • Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, a pastor and businessman, got a head start on this year’s freshman class when he was elected in a special election last year to replace Sen. John Mark Montgomery who resigned to become CEO of the Lawton Ft. Sill Chamber.

Incoming class of new House members: 

  • Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow, a businessman, will replace Rep. Kevin McDugle who withdrew from the Republican primary after Chapman filed. Chapman won the general election.
  • Jonathan Wilk, R-Goldsby, a former firefighter and small business owner, will replace Rep. Sherrie Conley who chose not to run for re-election.
  • Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, most recently a lobbyist for the Oklahoma Education Association after working for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma County Immunization Coalition, will replace Rep. Mauree Turner who chose not to run for re-election. 
  • Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, who previously worked for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and Oklahoma Management and Enterprise Services on employment initiatives, will replace House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols who was term-limited.
  • Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow, a teacher and self-described passionate advocate for family and parents’ rights in Oklahoma, will replace Rep. Dean Davis whom he defeated in the Republican run-off election. 
  • Tim Turner, R-Shady Point, a police officer, drug investigator and former sheriff of Haskell County, will replace Rep. Randy Randleman who chose not to run for re-election.
  • Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka, a rancher and owner of Eaves Stone Products in Atoka, will replace Speaker Charles McCall who is term-limited.
  • Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, who is a church pastor will replace Rep. Terry O’Donnell who is term-limited.
  • Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, a businessman in the oil and gas industry and rancher, will replace Appropriation and Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace whom he defeated in the Republican runoff election. 
  • Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, a former teacher and real estate broker, will replace Rep. John Talley whom she defeated in the Republican primary.
  • Stacy Jo Adams, R- Duncan, who owns an insurance agency in Duncan, will replace Rep. Marcus McEntire, who chose not to run for re-election. 
  • Jason Blair, R-Moore, who is in the commercial insurance business and is a long-time Moore City Council member will replace Rep. Mark McBride who is term-limited.
  • Mike Kelley, R-Yukon, a retired OKC firefighter and OKCFD supervisor, will replace Rep. Rhonda Baker who chose not to run for re-election.
  • Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, a businessman with an engineering degree and a minister, will replace Rep. Jeff Boatman who made an unsuccessful bid for the State Senate. 
  • Mike Lay, R-Jenks, who owns a manufacturing business in Tulsa, will replace Rep. Lonnie Sims who was elected Tulsa County Commissioner.
  • Ron Stewart, D-Tulsa, who was a firefighter and paramedic for the Tulsa Fire Department for 18 years and owns commercial rental property, will replace Rep. Regina Goodwin who was elected to the State Senate.
  • Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, a 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year at McLain High School in Tulsa and current Teacher of the Year at Traice Academy, an alternative school in Tulsa Public Schools, will replace Rep. Monroe Nichols who was elected mayor of Tulsa. 
  • Erick Harris, R-Edmond, an attorney in Oklahoma City got an early start on this year’s freshman class when he was elected in a special election last year to replace Rep. Ryan Martinez who resigned during his term of office. Harris was re-elected for his first full term in the general election. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1990. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol.