Tulsa area Senators take oath of office

Sen. Nathan Dahm, Sen. Joe Newhouse, Sen. Dave Rader and newly-elected Sen. Cody Rogers are officially on the job for the next four years after taking the official oath of office at the Capitol on Monday. The oath was administered to the Tulsa area senators in small groups on the Senate floor to accommodate for COVID-19 health safety protocols and ongoing Capitol construction.

Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, is beginning his third and final term representing Senate District 33 due to Oklahoma’s 12-year term limit. In the previous four years, he served on the Select Agencies, General Government, Judiciary and Public Safety committees. Dahm has been a champion for Second Amendment rights during his time in office, authoring and passing the legislation that enacted constitutional carry in Oklahoma. He also carried and passed Oklahoma’s anti-red flag law that protects gun rights for citizens – the first anti-red flag law in the nation.

“I’m thankful the citizens of Senate District 33 sent me back to the Capitol to continue to be their voice and advocate for our conservative rights and principles,” Dahm said. “I’ll work for all rights protected by the Constitution, including gun rights and religious liberties.”

Newhouse is beginning his second term in office representing Senate District 25. The Tulsa Republican served as the vice-chairman of the Senate Education committee during his first term and also sat on the Select Agencies; Business, Commerce and Tourism; and Public Safety committees. During his first term, Newhouse authored legislation to increase the cap on Oklahoma’s Rainy Day Fund and modernize the state constitution.

“As we move forward, it’s more important than ever that we have a strong voice for Tulsa at the state Capitol, and I’m honored the voters of Senate District 25 sent me back to represent them,” Newhouse said. “No doubt we will have a large range of issues to tackle, including fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and funding Medicaid expansion, but I’m up to the challenge and ready to get to work.”

Rader, R-Tulsa, is representing Senate District 39 for a second term. He’s served as the Majority Caucus Chair and vice-chair of the Senate Appropriations committee. He also sat on the Health and Human Services, Energy, Finance and Public Safety committees. During his first term, Rader authored and passed legislation allowing outpatient hospice patients to have greater access to their medications by exempting their doctors from Oklahoma’s electronic prescription law.

“I’m humbled to have been re-elected by the voters of Senate District 39 and to represent our Republican values at the Capitol,” Rader said. “The next session will be challenging as we deal with low oil and gas prices and a health crisis caused by COVID-19, so it will be more important than ever that we take a hard look at how our government is functioning and how we can maximize services while minimizing cost. However, I’m ready to confront these issues and face them directly.”

Rogers will be serving his first four-year term in the Oklahoma Senate. The newly elected Tulsa Republican started a paving construction company in 2015 and has since grown it into a successful business. Rogers plans to advocate for reduced regulations on small businesses and Second Amendment issues at the Capitol. He also supports investing in Oklahoma’s educational systems and lowering prescription drug costs for seniors.  

“I’m honored to be trusted with the responsibility to uphold our conservative values of Senate District 37 in the state Senate,” Rogers said. “More small businessmen are needed at the Capitol, and I’m excited to bring my business skillset to deliver real results for our state.”

The Senate will hold a one-day organizational meeting on Jan. 5 and will begin the 2021 legislative session on Feb. 1.

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