Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols endorses Clinton's efforts to earn the vacant House District 71 seat in a special election on April 1
Tulsa, OKLAHOMA – Democrat, small business owner, Cherokee Nation citizen and twenty-year resident of Brookside Amanda Clinton has formally kicked off her campaign for State Representative for Oklahoma House District 71. With a deep passion for public service, a strong background in education and two decades of government experience, Amanda is ready to bring her leadership and advocacy to the Oklahoma State Capitol, ensuring Oklahomans get the representation they deserve.
Amanda grew up in rural northeast Oklahoma, where her Cherokee ancestors settled nearly 200 years ago. Raised by a general contractor and a current 53-year classroom teacher, she learned the values of fairness, integrity, and honesty early on. Amanda credits her success to a strong public education and the Cherokee Nation's investment in the cultural and economic empowerment of its citizens.
A former journalist, Amanda spent 15 years at the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses, rising from an entry-level role to an executive position. Amanda has owned and managed two small businesses for the past five years, one in real estate and one consulting Tribal governments and Native-owned and woman-owned businesses and organizations. A two-time Oklahoma State University graduate, she serves as an adjunct professor at OSU and founded a scholarship for Native students pursuing communications degrees from OSU.
"I've had a passion for public service my entire life and am proud to be the product of a system that invests in its citizens. I was born at the Cherokee Nation's W.W. Hastings Hospital, attended Cherokee Nation Head Start, and earned scholarships from the Cherokee Nation and organizations that invest in Native students. My upbringing in the Cherokee Nation showed me what a government that serves its people looks like, and it doesn't look like the state of Oklahoma," Clinton said. "From Ryan Walters shortchanging public school students and educators, to inequitable health care for women, elders and disadvantaged populations, to workers who are deprived of the opportunity to retire with dignity, Oklahomans are being neglected and left behind by their government."
If elected on April 1, Amanda says she will work to minimize State Superintendent Ryan Walters' impact on public schools and fight for free, quality public education for all Oklahoman children.
"My mom has been a public-school teacher for 53 years. I walked out with her in 1990 in elementary school to force the passage of House Bill 1017, and I walked out with her again in 2018. Since then, the legislature has gutted House Bill 1017, and Ryan Walters has become the most destructive force in public education in my lifetime,” Clinton said. “When the state's top education official fosters a hostile environment, there aren't enough incentives in the world to attract educators, families and businesses to Oklahoma. It's time we stop walking out and time to start standing up for education and against Ryan Walters and his radical agenda."
Amanda serves on the boards of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the National Native American Hall of Fame, Arts Alliance Tulsa and the OSU Foundation Board of Governors.
Her experience advocating for women, education, and a better quality of life in Oklahoma shapes her values and sets her apart from other candidates.
"I'll fight for reproductive rights and against repressive laws that make pregnancy a life-threatening condition for Oklahoma women," she said.
Amanda believes that no matter someone's economic status, every Oklahoman has the right to access the medical care they deserve and retire with dignity. This belief was underscored by her family's experience as caregivers for her father, who passed away at the age of 69 after a long battle with cancer.
Water quality and quantity are also longtime passions of Amanda's. Growing up on the pristine Saline and Spring Creeks, clean, plentiful water is incredibly close to her heart. Amanda firmly believes safe, clean water is a basic right all Oklahomans should enjoy.
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols has endorsed Amanda, highlighting her leadership, advocacy and dedication to the community. Amanda served as communications director for Mayor Nichols' historic campaign and subsequent 2024 election.
"Amanda's deep relationships in Indian Country and across both rural and urban areas will make her an incredible asset to Tulsa in the state legislature. Having served eight years in the legislature, I know how important it is to have leaders at the State Capitol with Tulsa's interests at heart. Amanda's broad experience, matched with her ability to foster collaboration, build strategic partnerships, and navigate complex issues, will serve Tulsa well,” Mayor Nichols said. "Amanda is a pragmatic fighter who has what it takes to represent House District 71 and is the type of leader who will move Tulsa forward. She has my full endorsement, and I ask you to join me in supporting her."
Amanda believes state leaders have poorly served Oklahomans, and their basic rights have been ignored for too long. She vows to fight just as hard for the citizens of House District 71 as she has for everything else.
"Nothing has been handed to me. Anything I've earned has been achieved through hard work, perseverance and determination. I look forward to bringing that same grit, work ethic and passion for getting things done to the citizens of Oklahoma House District 71,” Clinton said.
The west border of House District 71 stretches from E. 81st St. on the south to Southwest Boulevard along the Arkansas River. The eastern border stretches from Lewis Ave. to Yorktown, with 21st St. and the Downtown Interdispersal Loop forming the north border. Neighborhoods include River View, Maple Ridge South, Woodward Park, Utica Square, Terwillegar Heights, Brookside, Bolewood Acres, South Bolewood, Heller Park, South Peoria, Hope Valley, Sans Souci, Kensington and Riverwood.
ZIP Codes represented are 74105, 74114, 74119, 74120, 74127, 74136, 74137.
The special election primary is April 1. If a primary runoff is needed, it will be held on May 13, and the general election will be held on June 10. The general election will be held on May 13 if no primary runoff is needed.
Learn more about Amanda and her priorities by visiting amandaforoklahoma.com.
