OKLAHOMA CITY Ready to face off in a fight for Oklahoma’s future, Nelson Nelson of Broken Bow is announcing her candidacy for Congressional District 5 (CD-5). The civic leader, former small business owner and educator is focused on restoring good government, strengthening the middle class and protecting Social Security and Medicare. Nelson is a member of the Democratic Party.
“Between skyrocketing grocery costs, the highest insurance rates in the nation and non-stop housing expense growth, it’s simply too expensive for everyday Oklahomans to live right now,” Nelson said. “But while working families struggle, Stephanie Bice and the other MAGA Minions in D.C. are solely focused on helping billionaires get richer. That’s not OK.”
Nelson is a nonprofit development professional, corporate leadership developer and small business owner who most recently served as acting Executive Director and Director of Programs for the Oklahoma Faith Network. She has been happily married to her husband Karl, a university professor and church choir director, for 21 years. They are proud parents of two children.
In addition to addressing Oklahoma’s affordability crisis, Nelson is running to protect Veterans’ healthcare, strengthen national security and save programs that are lifelines for vulnerable Oklahomans, like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
“Almost half of the children born in Oklahoma depend on Medicaid and we just witnessed our elected officials throw their hands up and vote to gut essential services for the most vulnerable among us,” Nelson said. “It’s incredible to drive down I-35 and see billboards bought by billionaires thanking them for this decision. It’s time to hold leaders accountable for their actions - this moral malignancy has to end.”
Prior to her work in the nonprofit and corporate realms, Nelson was an educator for more than 16 years, winning Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2020. She helped her students earn over $4 million in scholarships. In 2022, Nelson ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and earned more statewide votes than any other Democrat.
“When I ran for State Superintendent in 2022, I told the truth about Ryan Walters and what he would do to our children, our communities and our families. I did not lie, and now I’m sharing the truth about what Stephanie Bice has done to our state,” Nelson said. “While the political machine thought they silenced us, they were wrong. Because here’s what they don’t understand: When you attack Oklahomans, we fight back. This isn’t just about an election - it’s about the very soul of Oklahoma and the heart of democracy.”
Voters wanting to learn more about Nelson and her priorities can visit JenaNelson.com.