T. W. Shannon

Early life and education

Tahrohon Wayne Shannon was born on February 24, 1978, to a Chickasaw father and an African-American mother. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Cameron University and a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Career

Main article: List of Native American politicians

Shannon worked as a field representative for former Congressman J. C. Watts and later served in the same position for Congressman Tom Cole. An enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, he worked as the chief administrative officer for Chickasaw Nation Enterprises.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Shannon was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2006, defeating opponent Janice Drewry in the general election. He rose to leadership in the state House, where he served as deputy majority whip in his first term, chaired the transportation committee in his second term and was elected speaker-designate in his third term. On January 8, 2013, Shannon took the oath of office to be the speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He is the first African-American and Chickasaw to sit as Oklahoma House Speaker, and the fourth speaker of Native heritage, after William A. Durant (Choctaw, served from 1911 to 1913), William P. Willis (Kiowa, served from 1973 to 1978), and Larry E. Adair (Cherokee, served from 2001 to 2004).

He has advocated for identifying and selling off state-owned properties that were not being fully utilized. Shannon sponsored an eight-year plan to divert state income tax revenue to repairing Oklahoma's structurally deficient bridges.

As speaker, Shannon authored legislation to create a long-term plan to address the maintenance of state-owned properties and consolidate property management entities.

The first sale under the program to sell off state-owned properties was the sale of a former studio for the state public television station for $130,000. The next properties up for sale are a townlot in Buffalo and 5.58 acres in Marietta.

Shannon advocated a controversial measure to require Oklahoma recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) to perform at least 35 hours of work activities or be denied aid. The work requirement was scaled back after the cost of providing job training to SNAP recipients became clear.

GOPAC, an organization whose mission it is to support up-and-coming Republican leaders, added Shannon to its national advisory board in 2013.

House district 62 encompasses Lawton, Oklahoma and its surrounding communities.

US Senate campaigns

Shannon stepped down as the speaker to run for the Republican nomination in the 2014 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma to succeed Tom Coburn.

Despite Tea Party support and endorsements that included U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Shannon lost the Republican nomination for the Senate to U.S. Representative James Lankford by almost 20 points.

In March 2022, Shannon announced that he was running in the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma to succeed the retiring Republican Jim Inhofe. He was endorsed by Bill Anoatubby, the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. Shannon finished in second place in the 13 candidate field, advancing to a runoff against Markwayne Mullin. Mullin defeated Shannon in the runoff.

Trump administration

It was announced in April 2025 that Shannon had joined the Trump administration as a senior advisor on rural prosperity to USDA secretary Brooke Rollins.

Lt. governor campaign

On January 12, 2026, Shannon announced his campaign for lieutenant governor of Oklahoma during the 2026 Oklahoma elections. He formally launched his campaign the next day in Tulsa.

Personal life

Shannon attends Bethlehem Baptist Church in Lawton. He met his wife, Devon (née Murray), at Cameron University and married her in 2001. They have two children, a daughter and son. Today, he is the CEO of Chickasaw Community Bank in Oklahoma City.

References

References

1. "Former State Rep. T.W. Shannon - Biography". [[LegiStorm]].
2. [http://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/06sh.pdf 2006 General Election], Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed May 27, 2013)
3. McNutt, Michael. "[http://newsok.com/t.w.-shannon-of-lawton-officially-takes-oklahoma-house-speakers-post/article/3744284 T.W. Shannon of Lawton officially takes Oklahoma House speakers post]," ''The Oklahoman'', January 9, 2013 (accessed March 21, 2013).
4. McNutt, Michael. [http://newsok.com/oklahoma-should-sell-some-buildings-to-fund-capitol-repairs-lawmaker-says/article/3623053 Oklahoma should sell some buildings to fund capitol repairs, lawmaker says]''The Oklahoman'' November 14, 2011. (accessed March 23, 2013).
5. Hoberock, Barbara. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120605_16_A1_CUTLIN537471 Oklahoma funding to increase bridge repairs], ''Tulsa World'', June 12, 2012. (accessed March 23, 2013)
6. "[http://newsok.com/effort-to-sell-oklahomas-unused-buildings-properties-continues/article/3764283 Effort to sell Oklahoma's unused buildings, properties]", ''The Oklahoman'' March 10, 2013 (accessed March 23, 2013).
7. Krehbiel, Randy. "[http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Former_Oklahoma_Educational_Television_Authority_studio/20130704_11_A10_Thesta696335 Ex-OETA studio sold through new state program]", ''Tulsa World'', July 4, 2013. (accessed July 11, 2013)
8. McNutt, Michael and Kemp, Adam. "[http://newsok.com/oklahoma-house-speaker-scales-back-food-stamp-work-requirement/article/3763518/ Oklahoma House speaker scales back food stamp work requirement]", ''The Oklahoman'', March 8, 2011. (accessed June 27, 2013).
9. [http://conservative.org/cpac/ CPAC] (accessed March 21, 2013).
10. [http://www.okhouse.gov/Research/HouseDistricts.aspx House Districts, Congressional and Other Maps] {{webarchive. link. (May 7, 2009 , [http://www.okhouse.gov Oklahoma House of Representatives] {{webarchive). link. (June 22, 2013 . (access March 21, 2013).)
11. (January 29, 2014). "T.W. Shannon Enters Race For Oklahoma Senate Seat". The Huffington Post.
12. Parti, Tarini. (June 24, 2014). "James Lankford wins Oklahoma GOP Senate nomination outright". [[POLITICO]].
13. [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/james-lankford-defeats-tw-shannon-oklahoma-senate-primary "James Lankford defeats T.W. Shannon in Oklahoma Senate primary"], [[MSNBC]], Benjy Sarlin, June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
14. (March 9, 2022). "Former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon expected to announce U.S. Senate candidacy". Tulsa World.
15. (March 10, 2022). "After eight years, Shannon ready for one more race". Tulsa World.
16. "Mullin, Shannon head to GOP primary runoff election in race for Inhofe seat".
17. (August 23, 2022). "Rep. Markwayne Mullin defeats TW Shannon in Oklahoma GOP Senate runoff". Fox News.
18. Leonard, Karoline. (August 23, 2022). "Markwayne Mullin wins Republican candidacy for US Senate seat, defeats T.W. Shannon".
19. (2025-04-25). "Chickasaw Nation citizen T.W. Shannon joins Department of Agriculture".
20. (January 12, 2026). "Former House Speaker T.W. Shannon announces run for Oklahoma lieutenant governor". [[KWTV-DT]].
21. (January 12, 2026). "Former OK House Speaker T.W. Shannon to announce run for Lt. Governor". [[KOKI-TV]].
22. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Oklahoma_House_Speaker_TW_Shannon_making_name_for_himself/20130428_16_A1_CUTLIN414577 Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon making name for himself], ''Tulsa World'', April 28, 2013.