Stephanie Bice, an Oklahoma City native who has earned a reputation as one of Oklahoma’s most conservative leaders, announced she will seek the 5th District congressional seat in 2020.
A fourth generation Oklahoman, Bice was elected to the state Senate in 2014 and serves as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
Bice (R-District 22) represents parts of Canadian County including Yukon and Piedmont.
“Washington is seized by gridlock and runaway spending and a Democratic House majority that has embraced socialist policies and big government solutions,” Bice said. “In Congress, I’ll do what I’ve done in Oklahoma, tackle big problems head-on and work to deliver conservative solutions that grow our economy for hard-working Oklahoma taxpayers.”
Democrat Kendra Horn became the 5th District incumbent after defeating two-term U.S. Rep. Steve Russell in the 2018 general election.
A champion of the free-market, Bice helped modernize Oklahoma’s liquor laws by engineering the first overhaul since 1959 when prohibition was repealed in Oklahoma.
Hailed as a victory for consumers and for economic development, Bice’s efforts have expanded opportunities in Oklahoma for locally owned businesses resulting in dozens of new breweries, wineries and distilleries opening across the state and creating approximately 5000 new jobs.
These changes have increased options for consumers allowing for the sale of wine and beer in grocery stores for the first time.
To control state spending, as chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Bice led the effort to require legislative approval of line-item budgets for Oklahoma’s largest state agencies.
“Conservative polices and bold leadership are turning Oklahoma around, but Washington’s ineptitude threatens Oklahoma’s economic growth,” Bice said. “We can’t have a representative who answers to Nancy Pelosi and a far-left socialist agenda.”
Bice’s leadership skills and abilities garnered state and national attention. She received the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce Rising Star award and was selected a member of the Governing Institute Women in Government Leadership Class of 2016.
A pro-life conservative, Bice has been endorsed by Oklahoma Right to Life and has maintained an 93 percent rating from the National Rifle Association.
After graduating from Oklahoma State with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a minor in International Business, Bice worked for eight years in financial oversight, business strategy and marketing for her family’s technology company. She later helped lead a boutique digital marketing company in Oklahoma City as Vice President of Business Development.
Bice is a graduate of Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City. She and her husband Geoffrey have two daughters. They are members of St. Eugene Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.
