Clay Staires
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 66th district
Assumed office
November 16, 2022
Preceded byJadine Nollan
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLisa
Children2
Residence(s)Skiatook, Oklahoma, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Oklahoma (BA)

Clay Staires is an American politician who has served as the Oklahoma House of Representatives member from the 66th district since November 16, 2022.

Early life and education

Staires grew up at his parents' Christian youth camp, Shepherd’s Fold Ranch in Avant, Oklahoma.[1] He graduated from Skiatook High School in 1982.[2] He attended the University of Oklahoma, played football, and earned his bachelor's degree in education.[1]

Career

Staires taught in Tulsa and Kansas City before returning to Avant in 2002 to run Shepherd’s Fold Ranch.[1] In 2012 Staires founded the Leadership Initiative, a mentoring service for small businesses. He also works as a motivational speaker and minister.[3]

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Staires ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2022 to succeed term-limited Representative Jadine Nollan.[1] Three other candidates ran in the Republican primary: Wayne Hill, Gabe Renfrow, and Mike Burdge.[4] While campaigning Staires questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election writing "If they accept Biden in the midst of all the evidence of a fixed election, 72,000,000 people are going to feel compelled to take action.”[5] Staires advanced to a runoff alongside Gabe Renfrow after placing second in the initial primary.[6] During the runoff election he was endorsed by Governor Kevin Stitt.[7] Claires won the runoff with 56% of the vote and faced Democratic candidate James Rankin in the general election.[8] He campaigned in the general election on his support for former president Donald Trump and fighting "against socialist policies.”[2] Staires won the general election over Rankin with 70% of the vote.[9] He was sworn in on November 16, 2022.[10]

Personal life

He is married to his wife Lisa and they have two daughters together.[2]

Electoral history

Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gabe Renfrow 1,698 47.6
Republican Clay Staires 1,183 26.2
Republican Mike Burdge 851 18.8
Republican Wayne Hill 787 17.4
Total votes 4,519 100.0
Republican runoff results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clay Staires 2,139 55.9%
Republican Gabe Renfrow 1,690 44.1%
Total votes 3,829 100.0
General election results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clay Staires 8,849 69.85%
Democratic James Rankin 3,820 30.15%
Total votes 12,669 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bishop-Baldwin, Sharon (April 26, 2022). "Skiatook candidates vying for HD 66 seat seek to set themselves apart". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Bishop-Baldwin, Sharon (October 26, 2022). "Two newcomers vie for reconfigured House District 66 seat". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ Hancock, Andrea (June 25, 2022). "'Whims of democracy': Ideological divides evident in House District 66 GOP primary". NonDoc. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ Smith, Robert (April 17, 2022). "Osage County candidates file for county, state races". Pawhuska Journal Capital. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ Brown, Trevor (June 6, 2022). "The Misinformation Election: Lies, Conspiracy Theories Prominent in Many GOP Races". Oklahoma Watch. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  6. ↑ Bishop-Baldwin, Sharon (June 28, 2022). "Breaking: Renfrow, Staires headed to House District 66 runoff election". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Brinkman, Bennett (August 21, 2022). "Nurse vs. consultant: HD 66 GOP runoff pits Gabe Renfrow against Clay Staires". NonDoc. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Bishop-Baldwin, Sharon (August 23, 2022). "Clay Staires of Skiatook wins GOP runoff for House District 66 seat". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ Bishop-Baldwin, Sharon (November 8, 2022). "Republican Clay Staires of Skiatook wins House District 66 seat". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ Shular, Daniel (November 16, 2022). "Photos: Lawmakers sworn in at Capitol on Oklahoma Statehood Day". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  11. ↑ "June 28 2022". okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ "August 23 2022 Official Results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  13. ↑ "November 8 2022 Oklahoma Unofficial results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
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