Issues

Public education is the bedrock of opportunity for future generations. Amanda’s success is rooted in the strong foundation of the Cherokee Nation Head Start program, well-funded public schools, and access to higher education through Pell Grants, Cherokee Nation Scholarships, and other academic scholarships. As an adjunct professor at OSU and the daughter of a 53-year veteran public school teacher, Amanda comes from a family of educators, including her mother, sisters, and aunts. She has always stood with public school teachers. Amanda walked out alongside her mother in 1990 to push for House Bill 1017, which was landmark legislation at the time. She walked out again in 2018 to demand teacher pay raises. Amanda is has long been critical of Ryan Walters and other politicians, and will be a strong voice in standing up to him and others who politicize education instead of addressing the real challenges facing students, teachers, and Oklahoma’s public education system. Amanda’s Priorities for Public Education: ✅ Expand the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program to ensure more Tulsa teachers with strong outcomes qualify for pay raises and stipends. ✅ Protect public school funding by rolling back tax credits that divert resources away from public education. ✅ Partner with Tribal Nations to expand Head Start and early education programs, easing the child care burden for ALL Oklahomans, so Oklahoma kids are set on a pathway to success.

A strong economy should work for every Oklahoman—not just the wealthy. As a small business owner, Amanda understands that sustainable growth must balance community needs with opportunities for working families. With rising costs of living, skyrocketing utilities, and soaring rent and housing prices, too many Oklahomans are struggling to make ends meet. Amanda supports raising the minimum wage and pushing for real solutions to affordable housing. In House District 71, rent keeps climbing, utility rates are at record highs, property taxes have soared, and homeowners face some of the highest insurance costs in the country. Oklahomans deserve an economy that works for them. Amanda will fight for policies that strengthen our communities, protect working families, and ensure every Oklahoman can retire with dignity. Amanda’s Priorities for Economic Security: ✅ Fixing the Oklahoma Housing Stability Program—adjust the rural-urban loan ratio so Tulsa gets its fair share of zero-interest home construction loans. ✅ Raising the Minimum Wage to support working families. ✅ Tackling Rising Insurance Costs by holding the Oklahoma Insurance Commission accountable. ✅ Holding County Governments Accountable to prevent negligence that leads to higher taxes and costs for residents.

Women in Oklahoma deserve better. Oklahoma ranks dead last for women and enforces the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. As a Planned Parenthood Great Plains board member and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes-endorsed candidate, Amanda has spent 20 years on the front lines fighting for reproductive rights and access to essential health care. Oklahoma’s near-total abortion ban has denied women life-saving care. Amanda will fight to get freedom of choice to a vote of the people, and ensure pregnancy is never a life-threatening condition. But the challenges go beyond health care. Women in Oklahoma earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men.One in five lacks health insurance, and working mothers struggle to find affordable childcare. Amanda is committed to policies that protect a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, access quality medical care, and achieve economic equality. Amanda’s Priorities for Women: ✅ Restoring Reproductive Rights by ensuring Oklahomans have the power to reinstate sensible reproductive healthcare policies, putting decisions back where they belong—between women and their doctors. ✅ Clarifying Medical Care Protections by ending the confusion surrounding treatment for miscarriages and pregnancy-related complications. ✅ Ensuring Equal Economic Opportunities by supporting women entrepreneurs and closing the pay gap. ✅ Expanding Affordable Child Care by helping working families access quality, AFFORDABLE care for their children. It’s time for leadership that prioritizes Oklahoma’s women.

Growing up on Spring Creek and Saline Creek in northeast Oklahoma, Amanda has always understood the value of clean, fresh water. She has spent years on the frontlines of water protection, taking on polluting poultry companies that threaten Tulsa’s water supply and testifying before the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry on the dangers of unregulated industrial farming operations. Access to clean water is non-negotiable. Amanda knows that pollution, drought, and mismanagement put Oklahoma’s water sources at risk. She supports stronger protections for rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater while investing in infrastructure improvements to ensure safe, reliable drinking water and recreational opportunities for everyone. Oklahomans shouldn’t have to worry that their rivers, lakes, and streams are a threat to their health. Oklahomans deserve a future where clean water is never in doubt. A lifetime member of Spring Creek Coalition and member of Green Country Guardians, Amanda will fight to protect our environment, secure sustainable water solutions, and ensure every community has access to safe drinking water. Amanda’s Priorities for Water Protection: ✅ Strengthening Protections for Oklahoma’s rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater. ✅ Protecting Oklahoma's water from out-of-state interests. ✅ Increase Oversight to improve water infrastructure and ensure sustainability. ✅ Safeguard Our Environment so future generations can enjoy one of Oklahoma’s greatest natural resources.

Amanda and her family have lived the challenges of caregiving—from supporting a grandmother with Alzheimer’s to navigating the gaps in the healthcare system while caring for her father, who passed away from cancer at just 69. Too many Oklahomans face barriers to essential care, whether it’s home health, memory care, or rehabilitation services for elders. Amanda knows firsthand that these resources are scarce, expensive, or completely inaccessible—and she’s determined to change that. Oklahoma also ranks among the worst states for mental health and overall health outcomes. A severe shortage of healthcare workers, inadequate elder care, and lack of caregiver support create a crisis that leaves families struggling. Health care isn’t partisan—it’s personal. Every Oklahoman deserves access to quality medical care, mental health services, and the support needed to care for ailing loved ones. Amanda’s Health Care Priorities: ✅ Expanding Home Healthcare Services and support for caregivers. ✅ Increasing Funding for hospice and palliative care programs. ✅ Addressing the Shortage of mental health professionals to expand services.

Safe, affordable housing should be a basic right, not a privilege. Amanda is committed to working with Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, city leaders, and Tribal partners to meet the goal of ending homelessness by 2030, ensuring every resident has access to stable housing and essential support services. To get there, Amanda will push for affordable housing expansion, increased funding for support services, and the removal of barriers that prevent Oklahomans from securing permanent housing. She will also work closely with Tribal Nations to develop collaborative solutions that address housing shortages and ensure all communities have access to safe, stable housing. The Oklahoma Housing Stability Program has $215 million in zero-interest loans to build housing, yet 75% of funds are allocated to rural areas, leaving urban communities like Tulsa critically underfunded. Amanda will fight for a more fair distribution of these funds to reflect the real housing needs across Oklahoma and help Tulsa reach functional zero homelessness by 2030. Oklahomans deserve a future where no one is left without a home. Amanda will work alongside Mayor Nichols, Tribal Nations, and community leaders to deliver real, lasting solutions. Amanda’s Housing Priorities: ✅ Expanding Affordable Housing Options to meet growing demand. ✅ Reforming Housing Assistance Programs to better serve those in need. ✅ Ensuring Fair Allocation of State Housing Funds to reflect Tulsa’s population and real housing challenges. ✅ Strengthening Partnerships between Tribal Nations, state, city, and local organizations to end homelessness.