Blake Cummings

Blake Cummings earned a high school diploma from Kinta High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1982 and a graduate degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2021. His career experience includes working as a management consultant.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a native Oklahoman, born in Muskogee, raised in Haskell County. Son of a school teacher father and a Choctaw mother. I live with my wife Donna in the "Pothandle" of Pottawatomie County. Parents of 3, grandparents of 6, not counting dogs, cats, chickens and ducks.

I am a former oil & gas consultant and government relations manager in both the telecom and energy industries, and have worked with government leaders of all ideologies. Government works best when the solutions meet the needs of the public, not the needs of the parties or rich donors. Our grandchildren need leaders who won't settle for 50th out of 50. Our low education ranking is an embarrassment that Oklahomans don't want, but our government has created it, and refuses to put in the work to change it. Lip service does not equate to public service.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Improving education outcomes is the most pro-business goal a state government can have. Better education means better prepared students, better earnings, greater opportunity for advancement. Out of state companies wishing to expand in Oklahoma will take us more seriously if we take education more seriously. Let's get off of the bottom rung of the education ladder. Oklahoma 1st, not 50th!Healthcare is something the people of Oklahoma voted for when they passed the referendum for Medicaid expansion. The state wants to take that back. Don't let them take your healthcare! Keep Medicaid, and work with our native Tribes to meet the basic needs of all our citizens together.Speaking of Tribes, are state government has let our relationships with our original Americans falter due to the State lowering taxes, and then asking a greater take from the Tribes' casinos to offset the smaller state revenue. Lets work with our Tribes side by side. We are all Oklahomans!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. Education spending to improve our ranking. Not just finding more funds, but being out-of-the-box creative to reduce costs, streamline where possible, and become an example of innovation overcoming stagnation.

2. Our tribes do a better job than the state of taking care of their elders and their children. We have tribal facilities all over Oklahoma. The state and tribes should work together to jointly meet the health and education needs of all our people. We are uniquely positioned to work together to provide solutions through joint initiatives.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Oklahoma Democratic Veterans Federation