Jake A. Merrick
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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 | |
| Born | 1981 or 1982 (age 44–45) |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Dallas Baptist University (BA) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) |
Jake A. Merrick (born 1981/1982)[1] 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 party, 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.
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.[3][4] Merrick worked as a professor of theology and philosophy at Southwestern Christian University.[3] Merrick is also the co-owner of a construction company.[5]
Oklahoma State Senate (2021–2022)
While campaigning for the 2021 Oklahoma State Senate special election, Merrick stopped using Twitter entirely in favor of Facebook and Parler.[5] 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.[6]
On April 14, 2021, Merrick was sworn into the Oklahoma Senate for the remainder of Stephanie Bice's term.[7][8]
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.[9]