Dalton Gau

Dalton Gau graduated from Edmond North High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2023 and a law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2026. His career experience includes working as an attorney.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dalton Gau is a 26-year-old native Oklahoman and current third-year law student at Oklahoma City University School of Law. Born in State House District 83 and raised in the Oklahoma City metro, Dalton graduated from Edmond North High School in 2018. He went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he was elected Vice President of the Student Government Association, interned in Washington, D.C. for a U.S. Senator, and earned his Bachelor's degree in just three and a half years. Before entering law school, Dalton served as a clerk for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and briefly taught high school students at Harding Fine Arts Charter School. He later received a full-tuition merit-based scholarship to Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he is now completing his final year and will graduate in May 2026. Throughout most of his time in law school, Dalton worked for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc. helping provide critical legal assistance to Oklahomans who otherwise could not afford representation.

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?

Opportunity growth. Oklahomans, especially young Oklahomans, are leaving the state and moving to places that offer better jobs, better schools, and greater opportunities for themselves and their families. That is why I am running. I will graduate from law school this year, and I am at a stage in my life where I must choose between joining my friends in search for greener pastures or staying in Oklahoma to help bring the change this state and its people deserve. We are not the wealthiest state, but with smart investment, strong public education, reliable infrastructure, and competitive policies that support job growth, we can build an Oklahoma that inspires others to move here - a place people are proud to call home.Fixing Oklahoma’s broken public education system. Oklahoma ranks 50th in public education. This is largely due to low investment. Oklahoma ranks 49th in per-student spending and 47th in teacher pay. While attending the University of Oklahoma, Dalton saw many of his peers pursuing careers in public education leave the state after graduation because in states like Texas and Colorado, teachers can earn $10,000 to $20,000 more per year. Oklahoma students are falling behind because the state legislature has failed to adequately fund education and provide competitive teacher salaries.Promote public safety, not politics. Promoting public safety means ensuring that every Oklahoman feels secure in their home, their neighborhood, and their daily life. Strong communities are built on trust, responsibility, and access to the resources that keep people safe. This includes well-maintained infrastructure, effective emergency response services, and community programs that support all Oklahomans. Public safety is not just about responding to real problems - it’s about preventing them and working together as a community. I believe that people on both sides of the political aisle, regardless of ideology, have more in common than they often realize, and we can all agree on one simple goal: a safer Oklahoma for everyone.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Restore trust in government. Oklahomans deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves. Too often, government is described as corrupt, reckless, or broken. But government is made up of people. Like any institution, good and bad actors exist everywhere, but we must not let “a few bad apples spoil the bunch.” Instead, we should demand better from those in office. Restoring public trust begins with personal integrity. For me, that means delivering real results in the areas that matter most: maintaining safe and reliable roads, strengthening our public schools, and supporting job growth that creates opportunities for Oklahoma families. When government delivers on its commitments, trust is earned.