T. W. Shannon

T. W. Shannon
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 2013 – February 10, 2014
Preceded byKris Steele
Succeeded byJeff Hickman
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 62nd district
In office
January 2, 2007 – January 5, 2015
Preceded byAbe Deutschendorf
Succeeded byJohn Montgomery
Personal details
Born
Tahrohon Wayne Shannon

(1978-02-24) February 24, 1978 (age 46)
Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Chickasaw Nation
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Devon Murray
​
(m. 2001)​
EducationCameron University (BA)
Oklahoma City University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Tahrohon Wayne Shannon (born February 24, 1978) is an American banker and politician who served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the 62nd district from 2007 to 2015.[1] In 2013, he became Oklahoma's first African-American speaker of the House.

Shannon stepped down as the speaker to run for the Republican nomination in the 2014 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma to succeed Tom Coburn.[2] Despite Tea Party support and endorsements that included U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Shannon lost the Republican nomination for the Senate to U.S. Representative James Lankford by almost 20 points.[3][4]

In March 2022, Shannon announced that he was running in the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma to succeed the retiring Republican Jim Inhofe.[5] He was defeated by U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin in the Republican primary by more than 26 points.[6]

Early life and education

Born in Oklahoma on February 24, 1978, to a Chickasaw father and an African-American mother (both of whom were history teachers), Shannon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Cameron University and a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Career

Main article: List of Native American politicians

Shannon worked as a field representative for former Congressman J. C. Watts and later served in the same position for Congressman Tom Cole. An enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, he worked as the chief administrative officer for Chickasaw Nation Enterprises.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Shannon is sworn in as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Shannon speaks to the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Shannon was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2006, defeating opponent Janice Drewry in the general election.[7] He rose to leadership in the state House, where he served as deputy majority whip in his first term, chaired the transportation committee in his second term and was elected speaker-designate in his third term. On January 8, 2013, Shannon took the oath of office to be the speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.[8]

He has advocated for identifying and selling off state-owned properties that were not being fully utilized.[9] Shannon sponsored an eight-year plan to divert state income tax revenue to repairing Oklahoma's structurally deficient bridges.[10]

As speaker, Shannon authored legislation to create a long-term plan to address the maintenance of state-owned properties and consolidate property management entities.[11]

The first sale under the program to sell off state-owned properties was the sale of a former studio for the state public television station for $130,000. The next properties up for sale are a townlot in Buffalo and 5.58 acres in Marietta.[12]

Shannon advocated a controversial measure to require Oklahoma recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) to perform at least 35 hours of work activities or be denied aid. The work requirement was scaled back after the cost of providing job training to SNAP recipients became clear.[13]

GOPAC, an organization whose mission it is to support up-and-coming Republican leaders, added Shannon to its national advisory board in 2013.[14]

House district 62 encompasses Lawton, Oklahoma and its surrounding communities.[15]

US Senate campaigns

Shannon stepped down as the speaker to run for the Republican nomination in the 2014 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma to succeed Tom Coburn.[2]

Despite Tea Party support and endorsements that included U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Shannon lost the Republican nomination for the Senate to U.S. Representative James Lankford by almost 20 points.[3][4]

In March 2022, Shannon announced that he was running in the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma to succeed the retiring Republican Jim Inhofe.[5] He was endorsed by Bill Anoatubby, the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.[16] Shannon finished in second place in the 13 candidate field, advancing to a runoff against Markwayne Mullin.[17] Mullin defeated Shannon in the runoff.[18]

Personal life

Shannon attends Bethlehem Baptist Church in Lawton. He met his wife, Devon (née Murray), at Cameron University and married her in 2001.[19] They have two children, a daughter and son. Today, he is the CEO of Chickasaw Community Bank in Oklahoma City.[19]

References

  1. ^ Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed March 21, 2013).
  2. ^ a b "T.W. Shannon Enters Race For Oklahoma Senate Seat". The Huffington Post. January 29, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Parti, Tarini (June 24, 2014). "James Lankford wins Oklahoma GOP Senate nomination outright". POLITICO. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "James Lankford defeats T.W. Shannon in Oklahoma Senate primary", MSNBC, Benjy Sarlin, June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Krehbiel, Randy (March 9, 2022). "Former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon expected to announce U.S. Senate candidacy". Tulsa World. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Leonard, Karoline (August 23, 2022). "Markwayne Mullin wins Republican candidacy for US Senate seat, defeats T.W. Shannon". OU Daily. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  7. ^ 2006 General Election, Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed May 27, 2013)
  8. ^ McNutt, Michael. "T.W. Shannon of Lawton officially takes Oklahoma House speakers post," The Oklahoman, January 9, 2013 (accessed March 21, 2013).
  9. ^ McNutt, Michael. Oklahoma should sell some buildings to fund capitol repairs, lawmaker saysThe Oklahoman November 14, 2011. (accessed March 23, 2013).
  10. ^ Hoberock, Barbara. Oklahoma funding to increase bridge repairs, Tulsa World, June 12, 2012. (accessed March 23, 2013)
  11. ^ "Effort to sell Oklahoma's unused buildings, properties", The Oklahoman March 10, 2013 (accessed March 23, 2013).
  12. ^ Krehbiel, Randy. "Ex-OETA studio sold through new state program", Tulsa World, July 4, 2013. (accessed July 11, 2013)
  13. ^ McNutt, Michael and Kemp, Adam. "Oklahoma House speaker scales back food stamp work requirement", The Oklahoman, March 8, 2011. (accessed June 27, 2013).
  14. ^ CPAC (accessed March 21, 2013).
  15. ^ House Districts, Congressional and Other Maps Archived May 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Oklahoma House of Representatives Archived June 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. (access March 21, 2013).
  16. ^ "After eight years, Shannon ready for one more race". Tulsa World. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Mullin, Shannon head to GOP primary runoff election in race for Inhofe seat".
  18. ^ Phippen, Thomas (August 23, 2022). "Rep. Markwayne Mullin defeats TW Shannon in Oklahoma GOP Senate runoff". Fox News.
  19. ^ a b Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon making name for himself, Tulsa World, April 28, 2013.
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 62nd district
2007–2015 		Succeeded by
John Montgomery
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
2013–2014 		Succeeded by