Latest news with #RyanWalters
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Jena Nelson is challenging Stephanie Bice for Oklahoma City-area seat in Congress
In the wake of a loss to Republican Ryan Walters in the 2022 election for state superintendent, Democrat Jena Nelson has remained active in political circles, speaking at events and commenting on issues on social media. The self-described 'duck and chicken person' — who cares for those animals at her home in rural Logan County — announced on Saturday, July 19, that she's running again for office in 2026. But this time she'll campaign for Congress, seeking to succeed incumbent GOP Rep. Stephanie Bice. Nelson made her declaration during an event held at the fieldhouse at Millwood High School in northeast Oklahoma City, which she noted was the site of her final campaign stop in the 2022 state superintendent race. 'For me, it feels like unfinished business,' Nelson told The Oklahoman. 'Let's pick right back up where we left off. I ran last time to help people. I'm running again to help people, as well.' Nelson, who grew up in Broken Bow in far southeastern Oklahoma, first gained wide public notice in 2020 when she was named as the state's teacher of the year for her work at Deer Creek Middle School in northwest Oklahoma County. She has said she decided to enter politics in 2022 after writing what she said was her 30th job recommendation letter for yet another teacher leaving the profession. Like every other Democratic candidate for statewide office in 2022, she lost to her Republican opponent. But in Oklahoma County, the state's most populous, Nelson noted that she'd received more votes than any other candidate for any other office on the ballot, no matter the party. She secured 124,500 votes — more than Walters (96,282), Gov. Kevin Stitt (93,466) or Attorney General Gentner Drummond (123,851), among others. Oklahoma's Fifth Congressional District covers most of Oklahoma County, all of Lincoln County, Pottawatomie County and Seminole County, and parts of Logan and Canadian counties. In 2018, Democrat Kendra Horn knocked off then-GOP incumbent Rep. Steve Russell to earn a seat in Congress. Two years later, Bice downed Kendra Horn and has held the seat ever since, rolling past Democrat Madison Horn in the 2024 election by winning nearly 61% of the vote that November. Bice said then: 'You can never take this seat for granted. We saw what happens when you do in 2018. Republicans really didn't realize that there was a race, and we ended up losing the seat. I am proud to have fought hard to win this seat back, and my goal is to keep this seat Republican.' Nelson is encouraged by the district's recent electoral history as an increasingly purple pocket in a deeply red state and by the fact she fared so well there in a statewide race just three years ago. 'The Fifth District is very, very diverse. It is the most interesting district, because it is urban, it is rural and it is suburban,' Nelson said. 'I think that my experience in my life can speak to all three of those demographics, as well.' Social Security, federal jobs issues important to Jena Nelson Nelson listed her top issues as including the preservation of Social Security, along with health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SoonerCare. Nelson also said she's passionate about keeping open rural hospitals in the district — she specifically mentioned facilities in Prague, Stroud and Guthrie. With Tinker Air Force Base located in the district, she said military and veterans' concerns also should be top of mind for any representative. 'When people talk about cutting federal jobs, these aren't just some bureaucrats, these are our neighbors,' Nelson said. 'These are people that are providing services important services for folks, even if they're answering the phone, you're answering the phone because maybe a veteran is in crisis or a young person is in a crisis. What we're doing is we're closing down lifelines to Oklahomans, and we can't do that. 'In addition to that, of course, I'm always going to be a proponent of education,' Nelson said. 'Right now, we know that there are millions of dollars being withheld at the federal level that need to get into our school systems, and we have a (U.S.) secretary of education that can't tell the difference between A1 and AI. I have a lot of background in education and I'm willing to go up there and fight to make sure that our schools get what they deserve.' Nelson acknowledged politics is an uphill battle for Democrats in a state in which they're outnumbered by Republicans by nearly two-to-one. All seven of Oklahoma's seats in Congress are held by Republicans, as are all 11 statewide elected offices in Oklahoma. The GOP also has supermajorities in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature. But, she said, if voters look beyond a candidate's party affiliation, they might like what they see. 'I would even say to people — get a chance to know me, not what you think that the letter beside my name represents, not what you think that about me through some kind of mailer or email or whatever they're going to put out,' Nelson said. 'But come to an event or come to a meet-and-greet and ask me the questions that you want to know (the answers to). I have always said that I will tell the truth.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Democrat Jena Nelson will try to unseat U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walters still considering run for governor, said there's no true MAGA representative running
In an interview with the News Press Wednesday, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters said he's still considering a possible run for governor of Oklahoma. Walters said the question about his possible candidacy comes up a lot when he's visiting with Oklahomans. 'We haven't made a decision on that yet,' Walters said. 'I get (the question) wherever I go, and it's very humbling. It's an honor to have Oklahomans (ask).' Walters pointed out that Oklahoma is a Republican state, and all 77 counties in the state voted for President Donald Trump. 'People are frustrated. They see that there's no candidate out there that's backing President Trump, and backing the Make America Great Again agenda. ... They want to see that candidate,' Walters said. On Tuesday, Walters announced a partnership with conservative nonprofit PragerU to vet teachers moving into Oklahoma from states with 'progressive education policies.' PragerU will supply the Oklahoma State Department of Education with an America First Assessment that evaluates teachers on 'their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, their understanding of American exceptionalism, and their grasp of fundamental biological differences between boys and girls.' 'We're sending a clear message: Oklahoma's schools will not be a haven for woke agendas pushed in places like California and New York,' Walters said in the release. 'If you want to teach here, you'd better know the Constitution, respect what makes America great, and understand basic biology. We're raising a generation of patriots, not activists, and I'll fight tooth and nail to keep leftist propaganda out of our classrooms.' The Oklahoma gubernatorial election is more than a year away, and six candidates have already announced their intention to run for governor. Those candidates include former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Charles McCall, Democrat House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former Oklahoma State Senator Mike Mazzei, business owner Leisa Mitchell Haynes (originally from Stillwater) and former Republican senator Jake Merrick of 'The Jake Merrick Show.' Drummond and McCall, considered two of the frontrunners, would likely disagree with Walters' assessment they are not MAGA candidates, as both have sought to align themselves with Trump in campaign material. McCall's campaign has called him an 'America First' candidate. Drummond's main campaign website includes a photo with Trump on the front page and gives about 20 seconds of his three-minute pop-up ad to images of Trump. Oklahoma congressman Kevin Hern, who represents Oklahoma's first congressional district, pulled out of the gubernatorial race in December 2024. In a letter to constituents that News 9 obtained, he wrote that President Trump's agenda in the next year would be intense and he was concerned about the 217-215 slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. 'Put simply, one member of the House could obstruct President Trump's agenda, and I will not let that be me,' Hern wrote. News Press Editor Beau Simmons contributed to this report.
Int'l Business Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Oklahoma Mocked as Teachers Set to Undergo 'America First' Screening to Obtain License: 'Trying to Uphold That 49th Out of 50th in Education'
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is implementing a new "America First" assessment for new teachers relocating to the state. The test, developed with conservative media non-profit, PragerU, is targeted at teachers relocating from states deemed to have progressive education policies. "Oklahoma's schools will not be a haven for woke agendas pushed in places like California and New York," Superintendent Ryan Walters said. The test will reportedly measure educators' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, understanding of "American exceptionalism," and grasp of "fundamental biological differences between boys and girls." "We're raising a generation of patriots, not activists," Walters continued. "I'll fight tooth and nail to keep leftist propaganda out of our classrooms." The final version of the assessment is expected in the coming weeks, with plans for immediate implementation. "We're thrilled to join Oklahoma in answering parents' urgent call against senseless woke indoctrination," PragerU CEO Marissa Streit said. "This assessment will stop extreme leftist ideologues from harming children and ensure teachers champion America's greatness and future potential." Online, the announcement was met with ridicule, with critics referencing national education rankings that place Oklahoma among the worst performing states. "They're just trying to uphold that 49th out of 50th in education," one Reddit user quipped. Others called it an effort to produce "J6 patriots," accused officials of wanting "followers not thinkers," and joked the state was "really gunning for that 50th spot." Critics also noted the irony of demanding smaller government while imposing new ideological screenings on educators. "No educator is relocating to pathetically retrograde Oklahoma to teach anyway," one commenter added. Teacher unions in Oklahoma declined to comment until more details about the assessment are made public. OSDE, under Walters, has recently implemented several controversial reforms, including new pro-America social studies standards and lifetime teaching bans for serious misconduct. Originally published on Latin Times
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Red state will require new teachers pass PragerU 'America First' test to keep license
FIRST ON FOX: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is partnering with pro-Trump educational nonprofit PragerU to develop an "America First" assessment for new teachers coming into the state. The state Department of Education is currently working with PragerU to develop the assessment for teachers "relocating from states with progressive education policies," which they must take in order to get a license to teach in Oklahoma. The new assessment will evaluate educators on three main aspects: knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, "understanding of American exceptionalism" and "grasp of fundamental biological differences between boys and girls," according to a news release about the new assessment. The goal of the new assessment is to ensure educators align with OSDE's commitment to an education "rooted in truth, patriotism and core values," and aims to instill "pride" in the nation's history among students. Arizona Launches Partnership With Prageru To Teach Kids About America's 'Rich History And Values' "We're sending a clear message: Oklahoma's schools will not be a haven for woke agendas pushed in places like California and New York," said Superintendent Ryan Walters. "If you want to teach here, you'd better know the Constitution, respect what makes America great, and understand basic biology. We're raising a generation of patriots, not activists, and I'll fight tooth and nail to keep leftist propaganda out of our classrooms." OSDE said it was still assessing which states of origin will be required, but said California and New York would be included. The exact makeup of the test is also still under development but will be finalized in the coming weeks. The assessment will then be implemented immediately upon completion, according to OSDE. Read On The Fox News App "We're thrilled to join Oklahoma in answering parents' urgent call against senseless woke indoctrination," said PragerU CEO Marissa Streit. "This assessment will stop extreme leftist ideologues from harming children and ensure teachers champion America's greatness and future potential." How Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Will Impact K-12 Education Fox News Digital reached out to multiple Oklahoma teachers unions for comment. The Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators got back, but they declined to comment, citing the fact they had not been notified of the details of this new teacher assessment yet. The Oklahoma chapter of the National Educators Association also declined to comment. OSDE's new assessment for new teachers is not the first reform Walters has ushered in over the last several months to ensure students get a pro-America education in the state. About six months ago, Walters released updated social studies standards aimed at strengthening civics and constitutional studies across every grade that "upholds pro-family, pro-America values." Under Walters' leadership, OSDE has also instituted lifetime teaching bans for serious sexual misconduct and other violations of professional standards, taken steps to address antisemitism and moved money from administrative budgets to pay for all students' lunches across the article source: Red state will require new teachers pass PragerU 'America First' test to keep license
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Red state will require new teachers pass PragerU 'America First' test to keep license
FIRST ON FOX: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is partnering with pro-Trump educational nonprofit PragerU to develop an "America First" assessment for new teachers coming into the state. The state Department of Education is currently working with PragerU to develop the assessment for teachers "relocating from states with progressive education policies," which they must take in order to get a license to teach in Oklahoma. The new assessment will evaluate educators on three main aspects: knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, "understanding of American exceptionalism" and "grasp of fundamental biological differences between boys and girls," according to a news release about the new assessment. The goal of the new assessment is to ensure educators align with OSDE's commitment to an education "rooted in truth, patriotism and core values," and aims to instill "pride" in the nation's history among students. "We're sending a clear message: Oklahoma's schools will not be a haven for woke agendas pushed in places like California and New York," said Superintendent Ryan Walters. "If you want to teach here, you'd better know the Constitution, respect what makes America great, and understand basic biology. We're raising a generation of patriots, not activists, and I'll fight tooth and nail to keep leftist propaganda out of our classrooms." OSDE said it was still assessing which states of origin will be required, but said California and New York would be included. The exact makeup of the test is also still under development but will be finalized in the coming weeks. The assessment will then be implemented immediately upon completion, according to OSDE. "We're thrilled to join Oklahoma in answering parents' urgent call against senseless woke indoctrination," said PragerU CEO Marissa Streit. "This assessment will stop extreme leftist ideologues from harming children and ensure teachers champion America's greatness and future potential." Fox News Digital reached out to multiple Oklahoma teachers unions for comment. The Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators got back, but they declined to comment, citing the fact they had not been notified of the details of this new teacher assessment yet. The Oklahoma chapter of the National Educators Association also declined to comment. OSDE's new assessment for new teachers is not the first reform Walters has ushered in over the last several months to ensure students get a pro-America education in the state. About six months ago, Walters released updated social studies standards aimed at strengthening civics and constitutional studies across every grade that "upholds pro-family, pro-America values." Under Walters' leadership, OSDE has also instituted lifetime teaching bans for serious sexual misconduct and other violations of professional standards, taken steps to address antisemitism and moved money from administrative budgets to pay for all students' lunches across the state.
