Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, announced Wednesday he would not seek another term in the Oklahoma Senate. Leewright represents Senate District 12, which includes all of Creek County and part of Tulsa County.
Being a member of the Oklahoma Senate has been the honor of a lifetime, but after much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection,” Leewright said. “I have never viewed public office as a life-long career. I believe we’re called on to serve our fellow citizens, then return to the private sector. That’s what I have decided to do.”
First elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2014, Leewright was named vice chair of the House Banking Committee and was assistant majority whip. In 2016, he was elected to the Senate, and was appointed as vice chair of Business, Commerce and Tourism, the only member of his freshmen class chosen to help lead a committee.
Leewright, an assistant majority floor leader of the Senate, currently serves as chair of Business, Commerce and Tourism and holds seats on the committees for Agriculture and Wildlife, Judiciary, Rules and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies. He is also the co-chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Rural Development Working Group currently vetting proposals for use of Oklahoma’s federal funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Leewright is co-chair of the state’s Rural Broadband Expansion Council, co-chair of the Senate’s Working Group on Marijuana, and serves on the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, which is responsible for overseeing and approving agreements between tribal governments and the state.
“I’m deeply honored to have had the opportunity to help grow Oklahoma’s economy, create new jobs, strengthen public safety, prioritize our schools and promote policy that reflects our state’s values,” Leewright said. “I want to thank the citizens of Senate District 12 for their tremendous support, input and friendship, and of course, I could not have done this job without the love and support of my wife, Cari, and our children. I also want to thank Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat for the faith he placed in me, my fellow members, and our staff for their dedication and hard work. I will always cherish my time in this chamber. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.”