Announcing Campaign for Re-Election

Times continue to feel uncertain, and Oklahoma is at a crossroads. Every day, I meet families who are working harder than ever to make ends meet, yet struggling to pay their bills, afford healthcare and receive a quality education.

What I’ve learned not only through years of service as a state representative, but through my years as a teacher, mother and community advocate, is that everything is connected because we’re all connected. The healthcare, education and economic challenges we face are not separate issues; they are threads of the same fabric. When one part frays, the whole fabric weakens. If a child can’t access proper nutrition or healthcare, that child can’t reach their full educational potential. This, in turn, affects our workforce, our local businesses and, ultimately, Oklahoma’s economy.

That’s why I’m announcing my campaign for re-election as Representative of Oklahoma House District 34, to continue championing a healthier, more equitable Oklahoma. Every issue we face is interconnected, and every Oklahoman deserves the chance to thrive.

Protecting Healthcare Access

The federal passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has sent shockwaves through our state. Experts warn that this legislation will impose new Medicaid work requirements, reduce funding and make it harder for Oklahomans to maintain coverage. Hundreds of thousands could lose their insurance. Billions of dollars in hospital funding are at risk, putting rural healthcare systems in danger.

Let’s be clear: SoonerCare is Medicaid. It is a vital lifeline for Oklahoma families, children, pregnant women, seniors and individuals with disabilities. The state legislature must act to protect and expand this program. I have advocated, and will continue to advocate, to ensure no Oklahoman loses access to healthcare.

When healthcare access is threatened, the effects ripple far beyond the doctor’s office. We are caught in a spiral where one cut impacts multiple systems. When SNAP benefits are reduced, it doesn’t just affect food access — it sets off a chain reaction. People without food struggle to work; rural hospitals lose funding; jobs disappear in small communities; and families face impossible choices between keeping their childcare or their jobs. Without preventive care, people are pushed into emergency rooms, straining hospitals and deepening both health and economic crises. Protecting healthcare isn’t just about medicine — it’s about protecting jobs, families and local economies across Oklahoma.

Investing in Education

As a former Stillwater Public Schools teacher for 15 years, I know firsthand how public education is the backbone of our society and democracy. Yet, Oklahoma now ranks as the 50th worst state for its school systems according to a recent survey by WalletHub. Our average ACT score has dropped to 17.6, well below the national average of 19.4. Oklahoma ranks 35th in average teacher pay. 84% of eighth graders are not proficient in math, and nearly 19% of high schoolers don’t graduate on time. When our educators and public schools suffer, our children suffer.

These numbers aren’t just statistics, they tell the story of our interconnected systems. When healthcare and nutrition suffer, education suffers. When education falters, our workforce weakens. 

Instead of diverting funds to private school voucher programs, we should be investing in teachers, classrooms and students - preparing them for the military, for university or for career tech, whatever they decide to pursue.

Strengthening education strengthens every part of our society, our families, our economy and our state’s future.

Standing up for Equality

Oklahoma’s diversity has always been its strength — from Native American heritage to the historic legacy of Black Wall Street. Every Oklahoman deserves equal rights. Yet, in 2024 alone, more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were filed in the Oklahoma Legislature. While a legislative deadline killed many of these bills, the message from some of my colleagues was clear: they wish to limit the rights of Oklahomans. I will always support all Oklahoman’s, regardless of who they love and who they are, to have the same right to happiness and opportunity in our state. 

When we support each other, we strengthen our entire state. Equality, education and healthcare are not separate priorities, they are interdependent building blocks of a stronger Oklahoma. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.

We can create an Oklahoma where no one has to choose between paying for food or medicine, where teachers are valued, where equality is not negotiable, and where every child has a chance to thrive.

This is the Oklahoma I believe in, one where we understand that our struggles and successes are intertwined, and our future depends on how we care for one another. I’m running for re-election because our work isn’t finished. Together, we can build a stronger, healthier, and fairer Oklahoma for all.