Trish Ranson

Trish Ranson was born in Wichita, Kansas. She earned a high school diploma from Ponca City High School, a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in 1993, and a graduate degree from Oklahoma State University in 2010.[1] Her career experience includes working as a educator.[2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

In 2018, I was the music teacher at Westwood Elementary. I was also a mother and a concerned citizen. What I saw when I went to the Capitol surprised and bothered me enough to push me to run for office—to be the change I wished to see for my students, my children, and my community. Since then, there have been many challenges in the state legislature but I remain committed to doing the good work for my community and my state.

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?

Public education is the backbone of our society and democracy. We need to ensure that our educators are well paid and their classrooms sufficiently funded. When our educators and public schools suffer, our children suffer. I have strived for proper funding, and I will continue to fight for the future generation of students and teachers in House District 34 and all of Oklahoma!In 2023, we saw over 800,000 Oklahomans receive state health benefits. However, over 1 in 7 residents of this great state still do not have health coverage. Oklahomans passed Medicaid expansion in 2020, but after the pandemic, many are beginning to lose their benefits. Since the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, many women have lost their access to safe reproductive healthcare.

Through compassionate leadership, I have fought and will continue to fight for equal, fair, and expanded health benefits so Oklahoma can be a leader in healthcare.Serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives has shown me parts of our state and its social programs that warm my heart. Unfortunately, the state's lack of support for some of my fellow Oklahomans concerns me. Oklahoma should be a place of equal opportunity for every person no matter zip code, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Nothing should stand in the way of an individual and their pursuit of the American dream.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In addition to my three main issues: Arts education, childcare, women's issues, government modernization, restorative justice, veterans

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Strong women young and old. Mr. Rogers, Pete Seeger, storytellers and artists.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A commitment to holding themselves accountable to a high standard. To be measured in their response, to be open to learning new information and then verifying the validity of this new information with their district is also important.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I know how to learn and how to teach. I ask questions and have difficult conversations. And I do all of it with a joy in serving others.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Core responsibilities include showing up in session, in committee, in district, to engage others in creating policy... communicating priorities and advocating for their vision... asking questions and challenging others and their ideals to create better policy.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To be the change I wish to see in the world: To increase my community's knowledge of civics, to encourage involvement and service locally and statewide, to inspire the next generation to take my place.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Challenger explosion. I was in high school. I was so excited about a teacher going into outer space only to mourn her death with the others on the Challenger.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was bagging groceries at the local grocery store in high school. I learned a lot in that job.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

As separate branches of government, we should check and balance each other. Current laws (passed in 2018) have given more power to the executive branch than I believe is prudent.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Poverty. We see our state's ranking at the bottom 10 on most indexes. We struggle with housing stability, food security, wages, health, and education. In the past 6 years, the legislature has moved more toward tax credits to spur economic growth. Although tax credits can be beneficial, it is only one tool in our economic toolbox. If we can't find a balanced approach, we will continue to grow the divide between those that have and those that have not.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

We should all have more knowledge of civics. I had no interest in running for office but when I saw just how dysfunctional the state legislature was in 2018, I got involved. A willingness to listen and learn (and then apply that knowledge) is more important than experience.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. The legislature's core structure is relationships. Knowing folks in both parties and from different parts of the state allow for better policy crafting. We are supposed to work together.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Possibly but my current focus is on my district and how I can continually improve my representation of my community.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

If the legislature were to do so, it would need to be in partnership with the executive branch. We each have our own lanes for a reason.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

As this would be my fourth term, I will reintroduce my bill to eliminate the "one box" straight-party voting option on the ballot. I will reintroduce my early childhood task force bill--in the hopes of taking inventory on the various funding streams and structure of how services are administered to better serve our families.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Sally's List, Unions, Oklahomans for Education, Moms Demand Action, Public Employees, Retired Educators

What committees interest you?

I am on Full Appropriations and Budget, Public Health, Agriculture and Higher Ed/CareerTech

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Government is run on taxpayer dollars. Every dollar we appropriate should be tracked and spent correctly. If taxpayer dollars are misspent or misappropriated, it is the job of the legislature to hold those accountable.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

Trick question. This past session, the legislature has made it harder for the people to check and balance the branch by increasing the challenge periods in the hopes of keeping ballot initiatives off the general election ballot. This needs to be revoked. The people must have a clear avenue to speak when the legislature refuses to listen.

Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased September 20, 2022

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Trish Ranson. I am a mom, former educator, and representative for House District 34 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In 2003, I moved to Stillwater with my husband, Andrew, and children, Will and Jenna, to be closer to my parents living in my hometown of Ponca City. I took a job as the music teacher at Westwood Elementary and spent 15 wonderful years educating thousands of young musicians. The teacher walkout in the spring of 2018 changed my career path and I successfully ran for office. As a veteran of Stillwater Public Schools, public education is one of my top priorities, along with affordable and accessible healthcare and equal opportunity for all Oklahomans.

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?

Restore funding for public education to make sure our kid have a brighter future. Investing in an educated, skilled workforce will help our state thrive.Improve access and affordability of our healthcare system, especially where mental health and women's health are concerned.Support opportunities that are equal and equitable for all Oklahomans.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, health, equality, updating older statutes to better reflect current needs, quality of life.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To listen. Representing 39,000 people means listening to differing voices and opinions and then distilling that information down to a common thread and acting upon that.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor and legislature are co-equal branches of government and need to work together to plan and fund the vision of our state.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Training a workforce that can survive automation, educating a populace that can survive misinformation to preserve our democracy, decreasing the poverty rate to improve food and housing insecurity.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Legislating is a team sport. Getting to know my coworkers and establishing a rapport is key to working out details later. It further helps to eliminate speculation and mistrust. I believe that building strong relationships is important for success.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Because I represent a college town, I enjoy serving on the committee of Higher Ed and Career Tech. I am also a member of the Education Appropriations and Budget committee. My current favorite committee is Ag and Rural Development. Having not had previous experience with this topic, I love learning about the needs and values of my rural neighbors.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe that good ideas can come from either side but that better ideas come from working together. Compromise is a part of that process.

Trish Ranson did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.