Josh Brecheen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOklahoma's2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Markwayne Mullin |
| Member of theOklahoma Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office November 2010 – November 14, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Jay Paul Gumm |
| Succeeded by | David Bullard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joshua Chad Brecheen (1979-06-19)June 19, 1979 (age 46) Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Choctaw Nation |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Southeastern Oklahoma State University (attended) Oklahoma State University, Stillwater (BS) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Joshua Chad Brecheen (/brəˈkiːn/,brə-KEEN, born June 19, 1979)[1] is aNative American politician who has served as theU.S. representative forOklahoma's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of theRepublican Party, he previously served in theOklahoma Senate from 2010 to 2018. He is a citizen of theChoctaw Nation.
Joshua Chad Brecheen was born on June 19, 1979.[2] He attendedSoutheastern Oklahoma State University inDurant. In 1997, he was first elected as SE District Vice-president of theOklahoma FFA. The next year, he was elected State FFA President, moved toStillwater, and transferred toOklahoma State University.[3] He served as State FFA President until 1999.[4]
After retiring from the FFA, Brecheen graduated fromOklahoma State University with a dual degree in animal science and agricultural communications.[3] In 2004, he was hired as a field representative for U.S. senatorTom Coburn, where he worked until his election to theOklahoma Senate.[5] He owns a motivational speaking business, Brecheen Keynotes and Seminars, as well as a small trucking and excavation business.[5]
Brecheen filed to run for theOklahoma Senate's 6th district in 2010.[6] He ran unopposed in theRepublican primary and faced incumbentDemocratic SenatorJay Paul Gumm.[7] Brecheen defeated Gumm in the November election.[8] TheTulsa World reported the 6th Senate district race as having the highest fundraising total for a State Senate seat in 2010, with Brecheen raising $217,548 and Gumm $289,786.[9]
During his first term, Brecheen filed a bill to repeal Oklahoma's Pet Breeders Act, which required breeders provide their animals with minimum veterinary care, food and water. The bill established fees that pet breeders would pay the state to cover the costs of inspections. Brecheen argued the bill punished law-abiding citizens.[10] He also filed a Senate resolution to have theOklahoma Legislature meet every other year instead of annually and cut legislators pay,[11] and introduced legislation to cut the Art in Public Places program, which provided funding to public art projects in the state.[12] Brecheen also filed SB 554 to allow teachers to teach "the debate ofcreation vs.evolution" in Oklahoma public schools.[13]
Brecheen served in the Oklahoma Senate until 2018. He retired after two terms, citing a commitment to term limits.[5]
Brecheen was criticized by theNational Center for Science Education for introducing several education bills modeled onanti-evolution bills fromTexas,Tennessee, andLouisiana during his senate tenure.[14]
In 2022, Brecheen ran forOklahoma's 2nd congressional district in a14-candidate Republican primary to succeed retiring congressmanMarkwayne Mullin. Mullin retired to run in aspecial election forU.S. Senate.[15] He styled himself during the campaign as "Tom Coburn's protégé" and vowed to vote "no" on any tax increases.[16] Brecheen advanced to a runoff election withstate RepresentativeAvery Frix after placing second in the primary. He narrowly defeated Frix in the runoff, winning the nomination.[17] During the primary Brecheen's campaign was supported by $3.2 million inpolitical action committee spending in support of his campaign or in opposition to Frix, including $1.8 million in support from aClub for Growth affiliated political action committee.[18] He defeatedDemocratic nominee Naomi Andrews and independent"Bulldog" Ben Robinson in the general election.[19]
Brecheen ran unopposed in the Republican primary in 2024 and will face Democratic candidate Brandon Wade and independent candidate Ronnie Hopkins.[20]
On the last day of June 2023, Brecheen introduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act which, if passed, would bar the use of federal funds forPride Month events and ban federal agencies from displaying thePride flag.[21]
During the first round of voting in the2023 House Speaker election, Brecheen cast the sole vote for RepresentativeJim Banks.[22] He switched his support to RepresentativeJim Jordan on the second and third ballots,[23] then to RepresentativeByron Donalds for the next three ballots.[24] On the third day of the speakership election, Brecheen voted for Donalds again on the seventh ballot.[25] On the eighth ballot, he voted forKevin Hern after Hern was nominated by RepresentativeLauren Boebert.[26] He voted for Hern again on the ninth, tenth, and 11th ballots.[25] He switched his support toKevin McCarthy on the 12th ballot after McCarthy agreed to additional reforms to the House rules.[27]
In 2023, Brecheen was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed PresidentJoe Biden to remove U.S. troops fromSyria within 180 days.[28][29]
Brecheen voted to provide Israel with support following2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[30][31]
In 2024, Brecheen voted against the $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine;The Washington Post reported that some of the funding would have supported defense jobs in his constituency.[32]
During a town hall meeting, Brecheen said that "We’ve gotSharia Law trying to be set up in America today. Absolutely we do. You have Sharia Law trying to be established in America today." Brecheen suggested that theMuslim Brotherhood, which he also accused of committing an unspecified genocide, was responsible for the spread of pro-sharia ideology. He further suggested thatPresident of TurkeyRecep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to re-establish theOttoman Empire.[33][34] Brecheen is a cosponsor ofChip Roy's "Preserving A Sharia-Free America" Act, which would deport foreign nationals who support sharia law.[35]
For the119th Congress:[36]
Brecheen confirmed his support for decriminalizingcockfighting in January 2024 after Anthony DeVore, president of theOklahoma Gamefowl Commission, told theKentucky Gamefowl Commission his organization had the congressman's support.[38][39]
Brecheen is a citizen of theChoctaw Nation.[40][41]
| Republican | Josh Brecheen | 11,719 | 56.77% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jay Paul Gumm | 8,925 | 43.23% | ||
| Turnout | 20,644 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Josh Brecheen | 9,505 | 53.6% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joe B. Hill | 7,888 | 44.5% | ||
| Independent | Vicki J. Gaylor | 339 | 1.9% | ||
| Turnout | 17,732 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Avery Frix | 11,336 | 14.7 | |
| Republican | Josh Brecheen | 10,579 | 13.8 | |
| Republican | Johnny Teehee | 9,963 | 13.0 | |
| Republican | John Bennett | 8,713 | 11.3 | |
| Republican | Guy Barker | 8,444 | 11.0 | |
| Republican | Marty Quinn | 5,612 | 7.3 | |
| Republican | Wes Nofire | 4,859 | 6.3 | |
| Republican | David Derby | 4,204 | 5.5 | |
| Republican | Chris Schiller | 4,108 | 5.3 | |
| Republican | Dustin Roberts | 3,746 | 4.9 | |
| Republican | Pamela Gordon | 2,344 | 3.0 | |
| Republican | Rhonda Hopkins | 1,281 | 1.7 | |
| Republican | Clint Johnson | 1,128 | 1.5 | |
| Republican | Erick Wyatt | 615 | 0.8 | |
| Total votes | 76,932 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Brecheen | 33,517 | 52.2 | |
| Republican | Avery Frix | 30,686 | 47.8 | |
| Total votes | 64,203 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Brecheen | 167,843 | 72.45% | |
| Democratic | Naomi Andrews | 54,194 | 23.39% | |
| Independent | "Bulldog" Ben Robinson | 9,635 | 4.16% | |
| Total votes | 231,672 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Josh Brecheen (incumbent) | 238,123 | 74.18% | |
| Democratic | Brandon Wade | 68,841 | 21.44% | |
| Independent | Ronnie Hopkins | 14,061 | 4.38% | |
| Total votes | 321,025 | 100% | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOklahoma's 2nd congressional district 2023–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 301st | Succeeded by |
