Merrick, 39, is a licensed minister and a former personal trainer who co-owns a construction company.
He describes himself as a constitutional conservative who aims to bring his religious worldview to the Oklahoma state Capitol.
This is Merrick s first successful foray into politics. He unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in Oklahoma s 5th Congressional District last year.
Merrick will not be sworn into office until after the State Election Board certifies the election results. The soonest he could be sworn in is April 14, according to a spokesman for Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat.
Once sworn in, Merrick will be the 39th Republican out of 48 members of the Senate. Democrats hold a nine-seat minority in the chamber.
GOP candidate easily wins state Senate seat vacated by Bice
April 7, 2021
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A state Senate seat vacated by now-U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice will remain in GOP control.
Republican Jake Merrick of Yukon easily won the Senate District 22 special election Tuesday, capturing more than 65% of the vote against Democrat Molly Ooten. The heavily Republican district stretches across parts of north Oklahoma City, Edmond, Piedmont and Yukon.
Merrick, 39, is a conservative Republican who has opposed coronavirus-related shutdowns and wants to make abortion illegal in Oklahoma. He will serve the remainder of Bice’s term, which expires in 2022.
With Merrick s election, Republicans have a 39-9 advantage over Democrats in the Senate.
Jenny Mae Harms / KOSU
Jake Merrick won the Senate seat once held by Stephanie Bice and several newcomers won city council posts in Oklahoma City, Norman Stillwater and Broken Arrow.
MERRICK ELECTED TO BICE S SENATE SEAT
The state Senate seat once held by now-Congresswoman Stephanie Bice was up for reelection on Tuesday. Oklahoma State Senate District 22 is a T-shaped district in parts of northern Oklahoma County and Eastern Canadian County. It encompasses the city of Piedmont and part of the Lake Hefner area.
The race between Republican Jake Merrick and Democrat Molly Ooten resulted in Merrick taking the win with 65-percent of the vote.
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