Philip Matthew Pinnell (born August 15, 1979) is an American politician serving as the 17th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma, since 2019. Pinnell is also serving as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism & Branding.[2][3] Pinnell is a member of the Republican Party.
Matt Pinnell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 17th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2019 | |
| Governor | Kevin Stitt |
| Preceded by | Todd Lamb |
| 1st Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism and Branding | |
| In office January 18, 2019 – March 1, 2024 | |
| Governor | Kevin Stitt |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party | |
| In office June 26, 2010 – April 20, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Gary Jones |
| Succeeded by | Dave Weston[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1979 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lisa Pinnell |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Oral Roberts University (BA) |
Early life and career
Pinnell graduated from Metro Christian Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[4] and Oral Roberts University.[5][6] He served as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from 2010 to 2013.[7] He then worked for the Republican National Committee as the National State Party Director.[8] Pinnell also worked on a campaign for former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.[9]
Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
On April 20, 2017, Pinnell announced his candidacy for the office of lieutenant governor.[10] On June 26, 2018, Pinnell finished in the top two in the Republican primary election, and he and Dana Murphy advanced to a runoff election,[11] in which Pinnell defeated Murphy.[9] Pinnell defeated Democratic candidate Anastasia Pittman in the lieutenant gubernatorial election on November 6.[12] Pinnell was sworn in on January 14, 2019.[13]
On January 18, 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt selected Pinnell to serve as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism and Branding, wherein he oversees the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.[14] Stitt separated the departments of Tourism and Commerce to be their own stand-alone agencies.[15] He resigned as Secretary of Tourism and Branding on March 1, 2024.[16]
Controversies
In June 2023, after severe storms hit parts of Oklahoma that involved hurricane-force winds and tornadic activity that knocked out power for days for more than 100,000 energy customers during severe heat waves, Pinnell did not inform Greg Treat that he was the acting Governor who could declare a state of emergency, which Treat eventually did days after the event.[17] Treat was not informed ahead of time he was acting Governor while Stitt was in Paris and Pinnell was also out of state.[18] Stitt had not responded to Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum's calls for assistance.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] However, six days after the event, Stitt was saying he was in contact with Bynum[24] and Bynum redirected attentions elsewhere from the story.[25] At least three people died from the storms.[26]
Personal life
Pinnell and his wife, Lisa, have four children.[27]