Jake A. Merrick

Jake A. Merrick is an American politician in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. He currently serves in the Oklahoma Senate as the elected member from the 22nd district. He was first elected as a Republican in the 2021 Oklahoma Senate special election to finish the term of Stephanie Bice after she vacated the office to become the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district. He lost his re-election campaign for his first full term 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 byStephanie Bice
Succeeded byKristen Thompson
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceYukon, Oklahoma
EducationBachelor of Biblical Studies, Dallas Baptist University.
Master of Divinity, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.[1]
ProfessionBusiness 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
Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, June 30, 2020[9]
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
Oklahoma's 22nd state senate district special election, February 9, 2021[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jake A. Merrick 2,328 58.42
Republican Keri Shipley 1,657 41.58
Total votes 3,985 100.00
Oklahoma's 22nd state senate district special election, April 6, 2021[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jake A. Merrick 7,415 65.45
Democratic Molly Ooten 3,915 34.55
Total votes 11,330 100.00

References
  1. Merrick, Jake (June 3, 2022). "Sen. Jake Merrick: "Does Dark Money Rule in Oklahoma?"". Muskogee Politico. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  2. DenHoed, Andrea (April 6, 2021). "Republican Jake Merrick wins Senate District 22". NonDoc. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  3. Brown, Trevor (December 20, 2021). "As Some Oklahoma Churches Push Vaccines, Others Sow Misinformation, Doubt". Oklahoma Watch. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. DenHoed, Andrea (April 5, 2021). "SD 22 candidates pursue unconventional paths to victory". NonDoc. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. Garcia, Brian (April 7, 2021). "Republican Jake Merrick wins special election for State Senate District 22". Oklahoma City Free Press. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  6. "Senator Merrick takes oath, begins service". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  7. Forman, Carmen (April 14, 2021). "Jake Merrick sworn in as Oklahoma's newest state senator". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  8. Forman, Carmen (June 29, 2022). "Yukon state senator Jake Merrick, 2 other Oklahoma GOP lawmakers lose primary elections". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. "OK Election Results June 30 2020". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  10. "OK Election Results February 09 2021". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  11. "OK Election Results April 06 2021". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
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