Josh Brecheen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byMarkwayne Mullin
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 6th district
In office
November 2010 – November 14, 2018
Preceded byJay Paul Gumm
Succeeded byDavid Bullard
Personal details
Born (1979-06-19) June 19, 1979
Ada, Oklahoma, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Choctaw Nation
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKacie
Children3
EducationOklahoma State University, Stillwater
Southeastern Oklahoma State University (BS)
WebsiteHouse website

Joshua Chad Brecheen (/brəˈkiːn/, brə-KEEN, born June 19, 1979) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma who has served as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 6th district in the Oklahoma Senate from 2010 to 2018. He is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.

Early life and career

Joshua Chad Brecheen was born on June 19, 1979.[1] He attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. In 1997, he was first elected as SE District Vice-president of the Oklahoma FFA. The next year, he was elected State FFA President, moved to Stillwater, and transferred to Oklahoma State University.[2] He served as State FFA President until 1999.[3]

After retiring from the FFA, Brecheen graduated from Oklahoma State University with a dual degree in animal science and agricultural communications.[2] In 2004, he was hired as a field representative for U.S. senator Tom Coburn, where he worked until his election to the Oklahoma Senate.[4] He owns a motivational speaking business, Brecheen Keynotes and Seminars, as well as Rawhide Dirtworks, an excavation service.[4]

Oklahoma Senate career

Brecheen filed to run for the Oklahoma Senate's 6th district in 2010.[5] He ran unopposed in the Republican primary and faced incumbent Democratic Senator Jay Paul Gumm.[6] Brecheen defeated Gumm in the November election.[7] The Tulsa World reported the 6th Senate district race as having the highest fundraising total for a State Senate seat in 2010, with Brecheen raising $217,548 and Gumm $289,786.[8]

During his first term, Brecheen filed a bill to repeal Oklahoma's Pet Breeders Act, which required breeders provide their animals with minimum veterinary care, food and water. The bill established fees that pet breeders would pay the state to cover the costs of inspections. Brecheen argued the bill punished law-abiding citizens.[9] He also filed a Senate resolution to have the Oklahoma Legislature meet every other year instead of annually and cut legislators pay,[10] and introduced legislation to cut the Art in Public Places program, which provided funding to public art projects in the state.[11] Brecheen also filed SB 554 to allow teachers to teach "the debate of creation vs. evolution" in Oklahoma public schools.[12]

Brecheen served in the Oklahoma Senate until 2018. He retired after two terms, citing a commitment to term limits.[4]

Brecheen was criticized by the National Center for Science Education for introducing several education bills modeled on anti-evolution bills from Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana during his senate tenure.[13]

U.S House of Representatives

Elections

2022

In 2022, Brecheen ran for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in a 14-candidate Republican primary to succeed retiring congressman Markwayne Mullin. Mullin retired to run in a special election for U.S. Senate.[14] He styled himself during the campaign as "Tom Coburn's protégé" and vowed to vote "no" on any tax increases.[15] Brecheen advanced to a runoff election with Avery Frix after placing second in the primary. He defeated Frix in the runoff, winning the nomination.[16] During the primary Brecheen's campaign was supported by $3.2 million in political action committee spending in support of his campaign or in opposition to Frix, including $1.8 million in support from a Club for Growth affiliated political action committee.[17] He defeated Democratic nominee Naomi Andrews and independent "Bulldog" Ben Robinson in the general election.[18]

Tenure

On the last day of June 2023, Brecheen introduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act which, if passed, would bar the use of federal funds for Pride Month events and ban federal agencies from displaying the Pride flag.[19]

2023 Speaker election

During the first round of voting in the 2023 House Speaker election, Brecheen cast the sole vote for Representative Jim Banks.[20] He switched his support to Representative Jim Jordan on the second and third ballots,[21] then to Representative Byron Donalds for the next three ballots.[22] On the third day of the speakership election, Brecheen voted for Donalds again on the seventh ballot.[23] On the eighth ballot, he voted for Kevin Hern after Hern was nominated by Representative Lauren Boebert.[24] He voted for Hern again on the ninth, tenth, and 11th ballots.[23] He switched his support to Kevin McCarthy on the 12th ballot after McCarthy agreed to additional reforms to the House rules.[25]

Syria

In 2023, Brecheen was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[26][27]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Brecheen was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[28]

Israel

Brecheen voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[29][30]

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Brecheen is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.[32][33]

Election results

2014 Oklahoma State Senate District 6 election[34]
Republican Josh Brecheen 9,505 53.6%
Democratic Joe B. Hill 7,888 44.5%
Independent Vicki J. Gaylor 339 1.9%
Turnout 17,732
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
2010 Oklahoma State Senate District 6 election[35]
Republican Josh Brecheen 11,719 56.77%
Democratic Jay Paul Gumm 8,925 43.23%
Turnout 20,644
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

2022

2022 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district June Republican primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Avery Frix 11,336 14.7
Republican Josh Brecheen 10,579 13.8
Republican Johnny Teehee 9,963 13.0
Republican John Bennett 8,713 11.3
Republican Guy Barker 8,444 11.0
Republican Marty Quinn 5,612 7.3
Republican Wes Nofire 4,859 6.3
Republican David Derby 4,204 5.5
Republican Chris Schiller 4,108 5.3
Republican Dustin Roberts 3,746 4.9
Republican Pamela Gordon 2,344 3.0
Republican Rhonda Hopkins 1,281 1.7
Republican Clint Johnson 1,128 1.5
Republican Erick Wyatt 615 0.8
Total votes 76,932 100.0
Republican primary runoff results[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Josh Brecheen 33,517 52.2
Republican Avery Frix 30,686 47.8
Total votes 64,203 100.0
2022 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Josh Brecheen 167,843 72.45%
Democratic Naomi Andrews 54,194 23.39%
Independent "Bulldog" Ben Robinson 9,635 4.16%
Total votes 231,672 100%

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Oklahoma, 2nd)". November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Senate - Oklahoma Legislature". Oklahoma State Legislature. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018.
  3. ↑ "Wagoner FFA students attend area conference". Tulsa World. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Hancock, Andrea (23 August 2022). "Josh Brecheen advances in 2nd Congressional District". Nondoc. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Candidate filings". Tulsa World. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Election 2010: State Races". Tulsa World. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "Election 2010: State Results". Tulsa World. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Killman, Curtis (6 November 2010). "Analysis shows that Oklahoma fundraising champs won 76 percent of their election races". Tulsa World. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Off, Gavin (18 December 2010). "Pet Breeders Act targeted". Tulsa World. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Hoberock, Barbara (15 January 2011). "Senators' bills aim to cut costs of Legislature". Tulsa World. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  11. ↑ Greene, Wayne (16 January 2011). "Public Art". Tulsa World. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  12. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (28 January 2011). "Two Oklahoma lawmakers file bills encouraging creationism". Tulsa World. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Antiscience bill in Oklahoma - NCSE". ncse.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  14. ↑ Gore, Hogan (22 April 2022). "16 candidates comprise the field in dash for eastern Oklahoma congressional seat". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Gorman, Reese (24 August 2022). "GOP contender for Oklahoma's only open congressional seat says he would vote 'no' on most bills". The Frontier. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "Brecheen tops Frix for GOP nomination for Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ Gorman, Reese (12 August 2022). "Super PACs are spending big on GOP candidates in Oklahoma's open U.S. House and Senate races". The Frontier. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  18. ↑ DenHoed, Andrea (8 November 2022). "Republicans sweep Oklahoma's federal races". Nondoc. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  19. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (July 2, 2023). "Congressman Brecheen wants House Republicans bending further right". Tulsa World. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Schnell, Mychael (2023-01-03). "Here are the 19 GOP lawmakers who voted against McCarthy for Speaker on first ballot". The Hill. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  21. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (January 3, 2023). "Congressman-elect Josh Brecheen among those blocking McCarthy speakership". Tulsa World. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  22. ↑ Doherty, Erin (January 4, 2023). "House adjourns after tense vote as McCarthy plays for more time". Axios. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  23. 1 2 Quigley, Aidan; McPherson, Lindsey; Lesniewski, Niels; Satter, Mark; Hellmann, Jessie (January 5, 2023). "Another day, similar result: Adjournment with no speaker". Rollcall. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  24. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (January 5, 2023). "Kevin Hern gets votes for House speaker on third day of fight in D.C." Tulsa World. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Casteel, Chris (January 6, 2023). "Josh Brecheen backs Kevin McCarthy on 12th ballot after 'intense deliberations' for U.S. House speaker". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023". March 8, 2023.
  27. ↑ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
  28. ↑ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  29. ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (2023-10-25). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  30. ↑ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (2023-10-25). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2023-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ↑ "Full list of Freedom Caucus Members after 2022 midterms results". Newsweek. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  32. ↑ "Republicans maintain all 5 US House seats in Oklahoma". KSTP.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Native candidates headed for Congress after midterms". Cherokee Phoenix. 10 November 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races General Election — November 4, 2014". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  35. ↑ "SUMMARY RESULTS: General Election -- November 2, 2010". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  36. ↑ "June 28 2022". okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  37. ↑ "August 23 2022 Official Results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
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