Chris Powell (politician)
Christopher Shawn Powell (September 30, 1971) is a former state chair of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and a current candidate for Governor of Oklahoma.
Personal life
Powell was born in Midwest City to Cliff and Sharon (Swinhart) Powell. Raised in Choctaw, Powell was a U.S. Marine who saw combat service in the First Gulf War as a member of Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines. He and his wife have three children and live in Bethany.
Political career
After joining the Libertarian Party in 2000, Powell ran for Oklahoma House of Representatives, receiving 14.72% of the vote. This was the best percentage for any alternative party candidate in the state since George Wallace's presidential campaign in 1968. In 2002 Powell was a candidate for Bethany City Council, finishing with 34.4% of the vote in the non-partisan race.
Powell served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and was also a board member of Youth Cornerstone, an organization that sought to combat truancy in Oklahoma City area schools. As chair, Powell was one of the plaintiffs in Beaver v. Clingman through which the OKLP sought to be allowed to open it's primaries to members of other parties in addition to registered Independents. The 10th Circuit ruled in favor of the party, but the state appealed to the Supreme Court where the appellate court decision was reversed.
After the OKLP regained ballot access in 2016, Powell ran for Oklahoma County Clerk, amassing over eighty-nine thousand votes to beat LP presidential candidate Gary Johnson's statewide total of 83,481. Powell's vote total and vote percentage, 36.43%, make him the most successful Libertarian candidate in the Sooner state.
Powell has written multiple opinion pieces for the Daily Oklahoman.
2018 gubernatorial election
In July Powell announced he would seek the Libertarian nomination for Governor. Since that time he has been campaigning throughout the state and is regarded as the leading contender
Powell finished first in the primary election on June 26th with 49% of the vote and then defeated Rex Lawhorn in the August 28 runoff to secure the nomination.
Thanks to the LP winning the ballot order lottery held on July 12th, Powell will be the first candidate listed on every general election ballot in the state, followed by Republican Kevin Stitt and Democrat Drew Edmondson.
Powell has received significant coverage during the campaign from web, print, and television media outlets.
Positions
Powell supports criminal justice reform to reduce the state's high incarceration rate,.
Having long been a supporter of decriminalization and/or legalization of cannabis, Powell has called on Oklahomans to vote yes on State Question 788 which would make medical marijuana legal in the state.
Electoral history
;Oklahoma County Clerk election, 2016
;Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2018
Personal life
Powell was born in Midwest City to Cliff and Sharon (Swinhart) Powell. Raised in Choctaw, Powell was a U.S. Marine who saw combat service in the First Gulf War as a member of Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines. He and his wife have three children and live in Bethany.
Political career
After joining the Libertarian Party in 2000, Powell ran for Oklahoma House of Representatives, receiving 14.72% of the vote. This was the best percentage for any alternative party candidate in the state since George Wallace's presidential campaign in 1968. In 2002 Powell was a candidate for Bethany City Council, finishing with 34.4% of the vote in the non-partisan race.
Powell served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and was also a board member of Youth Cornerstone, an organization that sought to combat truancy in Oklahoma City area schools. As chair, Powell was one of the plaintiffs in Beaver v. Clingman through which the OKLP sought to be allowed to open it's primaries to members of other parties in addition to registered Independents. The 10th Circuit ruled in favor of the party, but the state appealed to the Supreme Court where the appellate court decision was reversed.
After the OKLP regained ballot access in 2016, Powell ran for Oklahoma County Clerk, amassing over eighty-nine thousand votes to beat LP presidential candidate Gary Johnson's statewide total of 83,481. Powell's vote total and vote percentage, 36.43%, make him the most successful Libertarian candidate in the Sooner state.
Powell has written multiple opinion pieces for the Daily Oklahoman.
2018 gubernatorial election
In July Powell announced he would seek the Libertarian nomination for Governor. Since that time he has been campaigning throughout the state and is regarded as the leading contender
Powell finished first in the primary election on June 26th with 49% of the vote and then defeated Rex Lawhorn in the August 28 runoff to secure the nomination.
Thanks to the LP winning the ballot order lottery held on July 12th, Powell will be the first candidate listed on every general election ballot in the state, followed by Republican Kevin Stitt and Democrat Drew Edmondson.
Powell has received significant coverage during the campaign from web, print, and television media outlets.
Positions
Powell supports criminal justice reform to reduce the state's high incarceration rate,.
Having long been a supporter of decriminalization and/or legalization of cannabis, Powell has called on Oklahomans to vote yes on State Question 788 which would make medical marijuana legal in the state.
Electoral history
;Oklahoma County Clerk election, 2016
;Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2018
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