| Rep. Josh Cockroft is just another in a long & growing list of lawmakers who are opting out of the legislature. Today, Cockroft issued a press release to express his desire to focus on his ministry and other pursuits. This past year has taken a big toll on many in the legislature. the failures of leadership to follow constitutional law resulted in a special session to seek to restore the mandated balanced budget. Gov. Fallin compounded the problems when she unexpectedly vetoed much of the funding in the first special session, and then called a 2nd special session, which continues to this day. The problems were made worse by the actions of the legislative compensation board which decided to cut the pay of the legislature by a significant amount, effective after the next general elections. House Republicans have had a massive supermajority, but severe infighting has exploded in the caucus. The House Platform Caucus has been targeted for retributions and open calls on the house floor, because they hold to party principles including fiscal restraint and a call for aggressive performance audits of the state agencies, before any funding increases. Many funding and reform initiatives of the Platform Caucus are being stifled by Republican leadership. |  |
Communications & Public Affairs
April 11, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Josh Cockroft
Phone: (405) 557-7349
Rep. Cockroft Announces He Will Not Seek
Re-Election
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Josh Cockroft announced this week that this will be his last legislative session. He is not seeking re-election.
“I want to thank the great people of House District 27 for putting their trust in me over the last eight years; it has been the honor of a lifetime to be your representative,” said Cockroft, R-Wanette. “I have spent a great deal of time praying about this decision, and after conversations with many friends, mentors, and my family I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election as your state representative.”
“Public service has given me so many opportunities to learn, serve and fight to place our state on a better path. I have poured everything into this job since I was first elected, and I am ready to focus on my beautiful family who have sacrificed even more than I have during my tenure,” Cockroft said. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be a voice of common-sense and straightforward governing through integrity, accessibility and a positive vision for our great state. It has truly been an honor to serve the people of District 27.”
Cockroft was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 21. He has served as a member of House leadership under two speakers, as a presiding officer in the House, as the chairman of the House Rules Committee, and as the chairman of the House Special Investigative Committee.
He also serves as a member of the Appropriations & Budget Committee, Joint Committee on Appropriations & Budget, Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services, and the Transportation Committee.
His House district covers mid and southern Pottawatomie County and Northern Cleveland County.
Rep. Cockroft comes from a background in ministry and small business and is a devout man of faith. Rep. Cockroft lives on a ranch in Wanette with his wife Jessica, and their daughters Kylie, Cassidy, and Caedence.
