Let's Flip 26 in 2026
Vote Chris Odneal
Let's Flip 26 in 2026 Vote Chris Odneal
Meet Chris
Shawnee has always been home. I was born at Mission Hill Memorial Hospital, and my parents met here while working at Mazzio’s Pizza. My family’s roots run deep in Bethel Acres, where I spent summers helping in the garden and learning the value of hard work on my great-grandmother’s farm.
After graduating high school in Houston, I returned home to Oklahoma, working full-time while putting myself through college at Seminole State. I later worked in ExxonMobil’s technology department before starting my own business in downtown Shawnee in 2007; creating jobs and investing locally.
Today, my wife Lauren and I live downtown with our children, Silas and Ellis, and our dogs Maible and Hankey-Doodle. Our eldest daughters, Kay and Riley, are both active in college (Boomer Sooner & Fork ‘Em Devils!). Anyone who visits our home will quickly meet our cat, Vernando Santiago Escobar, who insists on being the first to say hello.
We’re raising our kids here because we believe in this community. They participate in sports with the YMCA, have joined local clubs, and attend local public schools that deserve strong support from the State.
As a small business owner and local leader, I’ve seen firsthand how decisions made at the Capitol affect our streets, schools, and neighborhoods. I’m running for State House to bring real-world experience to Oklahoma City - for our local small businesses like mine, stronger public schools for our kids, and communities like Shawnee that too often get overlooked.
This district is my home. I’ve worked hard at the city level for progress, and now I’m ready to be a strong, practical voice for our families at the State Capitol.
Why I’m Running
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After years of volunteering in our community, I ran for City Commission because I believed that too many local voices were missing from the decisions being made at City Hall. As Ward 3 Commissioner, I made constituent engagement a priority, holding monthly coffee chats, convening public meetings, participating in community forums, and knocking on doors to hear directly from residents. I didn’t just listen; I brought those concerns into policy discussions and votes that affect our neighborhoods.
From sidewalks to streetlamps to ordinances, I’ve listened to you.
I’m running for House District 26 for the same reason. At the Capitol, too many decisions are made without meaningful input from the people they impact most. District 26 deserves a representative who listens to constituents, asks tough questions, and turns community priorities into responsible legislation that reflects our shared values.
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SoonerCare is the backbone of healthcare access for nearly a million Oklahomans, serving children, working families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Protecting this program means ensuring eligible families can stay covered without being buried in unnecessary paperwork or administrative barriers.
Recent policy changes have increased eligibility checks, shortened deadlines, and added reporting requirements that make it harder for eligible Oklahomans to maintain coverage. These hurdles don’t reflect whether someone still qualifies—they reflect how easy it is to miss a notice, lose mail, or struggle with unreliable internet access.
Working parents, caregivers, low-wage workers, and people with disabilities are especially vulnerable to these disruptions. When coverage is lost, even briefly, families delay care, skip medications, and face avoidable medical emergencies. Children are far more likely to become uninsured when their parents lose coverage, compounding the harm.
Stable, continuous healthcare coverage leads to better health outcomes, lower medical debt, and a stronger workforce. It also helps keep hospitals and clinics, especially in Shawnee, financially stable and able to serve everyone who needs care.
Oklahoma should prioritize a healthcare system that values access, prevention, and stability over bureaucracy. Protecting SoonerCare means reducing red tape, keeping eligible families covered, and ensuring healthcare decisions work for people, not against them.
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Rural Oklahoma is facing a childcare crisis that makes it harder for families to work and communities to grow. In Shawnee and surrounding communities, there aren’t enough affordable childcare options, forcing parents, especially working mothers, to leave the workforce or rely on unstable care.
Oklahoma should treat childcare as essential infrastructure by investing in rural providers, strengthening and fairly paying the childcare workforce, and supporting licensed home-based and cooperative care models that work everywhere.
Expanding childcare assistance with sliding-scale costs would help families stay employed. Partnerships with schools, hospitals, tribal nations, and community organizations can increase access for families with nontraditional work hours. Smart, flexible licensing and sustained public investment will keep providers open, strengthen rural economies, and ensure families can build their lives in the communities they call home.
Join Us For the Campaign kick Off
Join us on Friday, January 3, at 5:30 PM at the historic Aldridge Hotel in Downtown Shawnee for the official campaign kick-off of Chris Odneal, candidate for Oklahoma House District 26.
As we ring in the New Year, we’re launching a campaign rooted in community, leadership, and a bold vision for our future. Enjoy an evening of conversation, connection, and celebration as we begin this exciting new chapter together.
All supporters and community members are welcome.
Food & Drink Provided
The Aldridge Ballroom
20 E 9th St Shawnee, OK 74801
As a downtown business owner, I’m running to create real change for our community.
I’ve been a downtown Shawnee business owner since 2007. My company, GO Consulting IT Services, started on Main Street and is now located near Union and 9th. I’ve seen downtown change a lot over the years, but there’s still more work to do.
In 2024, I ran for City Commission after years of frustration with how the City handled local issues like homelessness and basic needs such as street lighting. Serving as a commissioner has shown me that many of these problems can only be fixed with better leadership at the State level.
I’m running to keep moving Shawnee forward, supporting small businesses, strengthening downtown, and building a community where young families want to put down roots.
Contact Team
Chris Odneal
info@chrisodneal.com
(405)215-9645
Mail Checks, Letters, and Candidate Surveys to:
PO BOX 3786 Shawnee, OK 74802