Jake Merrick | |
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Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 22nd district | |
In office April 14, 2021 –November 16, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Stephanie Bice |
Succeeded by | Kristen Thompson |
Personal details | |
Born | 1981or1982(age 43–44) |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Dallas Baptist University (BA) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) |
Jake A. Merrick (born 1981/1982) [1] is an American politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma who served in the Oklahoma Senate representing the 22nd district from 2021 to 2022. A member of the Republican,he won the special election to finish the term of Stephanie Bice. He lost his re-election campaign to a primary challenge from Kristen Thompson.
Before running for office,Merrick worked as a licensed minister,bodybuilder,and personal trainer. [2] He is a former pastor for Living Rivers Millennial Church in Tulsa,Oklahoma and former co-pastor for the Tabernacle of Praise in Edmond,Oklahoma. [3] [4] Merrick worked as a professor of theology and philosophy at Southwestern Christian University. [3] Merrick is also the co-owner of a construction company. [5]
While campaigning for the 2021 Oklahoma State Senate special election,Merrick stopped using Twitter entirely in favor of Facebook and Parler. [5] He was endorsed by his predecessor Stephanie Bice and by the Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt. [2]
Merrick is one of the few "abortion abolitionists",people that seek to abolish access to abortion,elected in the Oklahoma Senate. [6]
On April 14,2021,Merrick was sworn into the Oklahoma Senate for the remainder of Stephanie Bice's term. [7] [8]
Merrick ran for re-election in 2022. He faced a primary challenge from Edmond business owner Kristen Thompson. Thompson out fundraised Merrick and was endorsed by Governor Kevin Stitt. On June 28,Thompson defeated Merrick in the Republican primary. [9]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Terry Neese | 24,828 | 36.48 | |
Republican | Stephanie Bice | 17,292 | 25.41 | |
Republican | David Hill | 12,922 | 18.99 | |
Republican | Janet Barresi | 6,799 | 9.99 | |
Republican | Jake A. Merrick | 1,736 | 2.55 | |
Republican | Michael Ballard | 1,691 | 2.48 | |
Republican | Miles V. Rahimi | 967 | 1.42 | |
Republican | Shelli Landon | 912 | 1.34 | |
Republican | Charles Tuffy Pringle | 908 | 1.33 | |
Total votes | 68,055 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jake A. Merrick | 2,328 | 58.42 | |
Republican | Keri Shipley | 1,657 | 41.58 | |
Total votes | 3,985 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jake A. Merrick | 7,415 | 65.45 | |
Democratic | Molly Ooten | 3,915 | 34.55 | |
Total votes | 11,330 | 100.00 |