Forrest Welch Bennett | |
---|---|
Assistant Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
In office January 2021 – January 2023 | |
Preceded by | Shane Stone |
Succeeded by | Melissa Provenzano |
Assistant Minority Floor Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
In office January 2019 – January 2021 | |
Succeeded by | John Waldron |
Member of the
Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 92nd district | |
Assumed office November 17, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Richard Morrissette |
Personal details | |
Born | Bartlesville, Oklahoma, U.S. | August 13, 1989
Political party | Democratic |
Education | University of Oklahoma ( BA, MPA) |
Forrest Welch Bennett (born August 13, 1989) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 92nd district since 2016. [1] [2]
Bennett was born on August 13, 1989, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Kevin and Cindy Bennett. [3] He graduated from Bartlesville High School in 2008 and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma. [3] While at OU, Bennett was involved with student government, including the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, [4] and ran for OU student body president in 2011. [5] He graduated from OU with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2012 and completed his master's in public administration in 2016. [6] Following graduation, Bennett worked for a political consulting firm [3] and the public education advocacy group Stand For Children. [7] [3]
In 2016, Bennett was one of three Democratic candidates who filed in Oklahoma House District 92 to replace Richard Morrissette, who could not run for re-election due to term limits. [8] During the campaign, Bennett made headlines for having his vehicle stolen while campaigning. [9] After securing his party's nomination, Bennett defeated Republican challenger Joe Griffin to win his seat. [10]
Bennett ran unopposed for re-election in 2018. [11]
Bennett has two brothers, and stated “(g)rowing up as the middle child among three brothers has definitely helped me to understand the importance of compromise and negotiation.” [3] Bennett is married to OKCPS board member Meg McElhaney [12]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Forrest Bennett | 3,263 | 60.54 | |
Republican | Joe Griffin | 2,127 | 39.46 |