Jake A. Merrick 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.
Jake Merrick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Yukon, Oklahoma |
| Education | Dallas Baptist University (B.B.S.) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Mdiv)[1] |
| Profession | Business owner, minister |
Early life and career
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.[1][3] Merrick worked as a professor of theology and philosophy at Southwestern Christian University.[1] Merrick is also the co-owner of a construction company.[4]
Oklahoma State Senate (2021–present)
While campaigning for the 2021 Oklahoma State Senate special election, Merrick stopped using Twitter entirely in favor of Facebook and Parler.[4] 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.[5]
On April 14, 2021, Merrick was sworn into the Oklahoma Senate for the remainder of Stephanie Bice's term.[6][7]
2022 re-election campaign
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.[8]
Electoral history
| 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 | ||