Colonel William A. Phillips

Stephanie Irene Bice (née Asady; born November 11, 1973)[1][2] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district since 2021. She is the first Iranian American and Pakistani American to be elected to Congress.

A member of the Republican Party, Bice previously represented the 22nd district in the Oklahoma Senate from 2014 to 2020.

Early life, education, and early career

Bice was born in Oklahoma City to an American mother, Paula Sue Vanhooser and an Iranian father, Hosein "Joe" Asady. Asady came to California from Zahedan, Iran via Karachi, Pakistan at a young age to study computer science. His father was Pakistani and his mother Iranian. He received a BS degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1973 and became an American citizen in 1975. Asady is the founder and CEO of a network technology company.[3]

Bice graduated from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City.[4] After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing and a minor in international business,[5] Bice worked for eight years in financial oversight, business strategy and marketing for her family's technology company in Oklahoma City. She later helped lead a boutique digital marketing agency in Oklahoma City as vice president of business development.[6][7]

Oklahoma Senate

Elections

Bice was first elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 2014.[8] She was reelected in 2018 with 73% of the vote in the Republican primary and 68% of the vote in the general election.[9][10][11]

Tenure

Bice represented the 22nd district in the Oklahoma Senate from 2014 to 2020.[12][13][14] She served on the Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation, and the Business, Commerce & Tourism, Finance, Public Safety committees.[14] In 2016, the Senate Republican Caucus elected Bice Assistant Majority Floor Leader.[15]

Bice was the Senate sponsor of House Bill 1269, a law that provided relief to people who were serving felony prison sentences for crimes that are now misdemeanors.[16] Instead of automatically granting retroactive relief to all eligible inmates, state lawmakers directed the Pardon and Parole Board to establish an accelerated, single-stage commutation docket to review eligible cases.

Bice sponsored SB 142, a measure that deals with the overuse of powerful antipsychotic drugs for nursing home patients who have not received a psychiatric diagnosis or given informed consent. The action was signed into law in May 2019.

Bice sponsored State Question 792, overhauling Oklahoma's liquor laws by allowing grocery stores to sell full-strength beer and wine.[17]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma § District 5

In April 2019, Bice announced her candidacy for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in the 2020 election.[18] The 5th district had been a Republican stronghold for over 40 years until Democrat Kendra Horn was elected in 2018.[19]

In June 2020, Oklahoman.com reported that the Bice campaign sent a mailer including the Oklahomans for Life logo without the organization's permission. Bice said, "I understand Oklahomans for Life wasn't endorsing in this race and wanted to make clear that I am pro-life and have stood with Oklahomans for Life".[20]

Bice placed second in the June 30 Republican primary behind Terry Neese, a businesswoman who was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Oklahoma in 1990. As no candidate won 50% of the vote, Bice and Neese advanced to a runoff.[21][22] Bice defeated Neese in the runoff and Horn in the general election.[23][24] She focused her campaign on immigration and affordable healthcare.[12]

Bice is the first Iranian American elected to Congress.[25]

2022

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma § District 5

Bice defeated primary challenger Subrina Banks in the Republican primary and Democratic candidate Joshua Harris-Till and Independent David Frosch in the general election.

Tenure

In late 2020, Bice was identified as a participant in the Freedom Force, a group of incoming Republican members of the House of Representatives who "say they're fighting against socialism in America".[26][27][28]

On January 6, 2021, Bice voted to object to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.[29]

On January 20, the day of Joe Biden's inauguration, Bice was one of 17 newly elected House Republicans to sign a letter congratulating him and expressing hope of bipartisan cooperation.[30]

In March 2021, Bice voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[31]

On May 19, 2021, Bice was one of 35 Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6, 2021 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[32]

Bice voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[33][34]

Committee assignments

Caucus Membership

Appointments

Personal life

She married Geoffrey Bice in 1996.[38] They have two daughters and live in Edmond, Oklahoma.[4] Bice is Catholic and attends St. Eugene Catholic Church also in Oklahoma City. She converted to Catholicism during her marriage.[39]

Electoral history

2022 congressional election

2022 general election results, Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bice (incumbent) 152,699 59.0
Democratic Joshua Harris-Till 96,799 37.4
Independent David Frosch 9,328 3.6
Total votes 258,826 100.0
2022 Republican primary results, Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bice (incumbent) 51,612 68.4
Republican Subrina Banks 23,891 31.6
Total votes 75,503 100.0

2020 congressional election

2020 general election results, Oklahoma's 5th congressional district[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bice 158,191 52.1
Democratic Kendra Horn (incumbent) 145,658 47.9
Total votes 303,849 100.0
2020 Republican primary runoff results, Oklahoma's 5th congressional district[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bice 27,402 52.9
Republican Terry Neese 24,369 47.1
Total votes 51,771 100.0
2020 Republican primary results, Oklahoma's 5th congressional district[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Terry Neese 24,822 36.5
Republican Stephanie Bice 17,289 25.4
Republican David Hill 12,915 19.0
Republican Janet Barresi 6,796 10.0
Republican Jake A. Merrick 1,736 2.6
Republican Michael Ballard 1,689 2.5
Republican Miles V. Rahimi 966 1.4
Republican Shelli Landon 912 1.3
Republican Charles Tuffy Pringle 907 1.3
Total votes 68,032 100.0

2018 Oklahoma Senate election

2018 general election results, Oklahoma Senate District 22[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Stephanie Bice 24,465 68.3% N/A
Democratic William Andrews 11,377 31.7% N/A
Total votes 35,842 100% N/A

2014 Oklahoma Senate election

Bice was unopposed in the 2014 general election.[43]

2014 Republican runoff primary results, Oklahoma Senate District 22[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bice 2,693 53.1
Republican Mark Thomas 2,381 46.9
Total votes 5,074 100.0
2014 Republican primary results, Oklahoma Senate District 22[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bice 3,191 37.1
Republican Mark Thomas 2,845 33.2
Republican Leif Francel 2,537 29.6
Total votes 8,573 100.0

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rep.-elect Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.-05)". November 30, 2020.
  2. ^ "Rep. Stephanie Bice". LegiStorm. Retrieved January 18, 2021. Full Name: Stephanie Irene Bice ... Alternate Name: Stephanie Irene Asady
  3. ^ Azma, Sheeva (January 21, 2023). "Stephanie Bice and A Tale of Two Iranian-Oklahomans". Fancy Comma, LLC.
  4. ^ a b "About | Stephanie Bice for Congress". BiceforCongress.com. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  5. ^ Snyder, Dan (June 17, 2020). "Meet the candidate: Stephanie Bice (R-OK5)". KOKH.
  6. ^ Forman, Carmen (April 12, 2020). "Outlook 2020: Bice played a crucial role in bringing Oklahoma into the modern liquor era". Oklahoman.com. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Bice announces bid". Yukon Progress. April 26, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "State Sen. Bice to challenge Oklahoma US Rep. Horn in 2020". KJRH. April 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "Stephanie Bice". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "State Election Results, General Election, November 6, 2018". www.ok.gov.
  11. ^ OFFICIAL RESULTS - Primary Election, Oklahoma Secretary of State, June 26, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Stabile, Angelica (November 9, 2020). "13 GOP women join the House, dominating congressional elections, making history". FOX News. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Oklahoma District 5 election results: Stephanie Bice beats Kendra Horn for House seat". Oklahoman.com. November 4, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Senator Stephanie Bice - District 22". Oksenate.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "Bice gets GOP leadership role". edmondlifeandleisure.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  16. ^ "How Oklahoma enacted the largest commutation in US history". Washington Examiner. November 15, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  17. ^ "Oklahoma State Question 792 alcohol ballot measure approved". Oklahoman. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Scavelli, Melissa (April 24, 2019). "Stephanie Bice to run against Horn in 2020". KOKH. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "Kendra Horn upsets Steve Russell in an Oklahoma City stunner". Oklahoman.com. November 6, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  20. ^ "Anti-abortion group claims mail pieces misleading in 5th District primary". Oklahoman.com. June 18, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  21. ^ "Live Primary Election Results: Races in Colorado, Oklahoma and Utah". The New York Times. June 30, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  22. ^ Adger, Patrina (July 1, 2020). "Terry Neese, Stephanie Bice advance to Republican House runoff election". KOCO. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  23. ^ Axelrod, Tal (August 25, 2020). "Bice wins Oklahoma GOP runoff to face Horn in November". The Hill. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Bice defeats Horn, wins back Oklahoma's lone Democratic seat". AP News. November 3, 2020.
  25. ^ Firozi, Paulina (November 7, 2020). "House GOP chipped away at Democratic majority. They can thank female candidates". The Washington Post.
  26. ^ Jankowicz, Mia. "A group of incoming GOP House members, calling themselves the 'Freedom Force,' are trying to counter Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'Squad'". Business Insider.
  27. ^ Parke, Caleb (December 1, 2020). "GOP Congresswoman-elect on forming 'Freedom Force': Left is 'totally out of line' with mainstream". Fox News.
  28. ^ "The 'Freedom Force': Republican group takes on the Squad and 'evil' socialism". The Guardian. November 30, 2020.
  29. ^ Polansky, Chris (January 7, 2021). "After Attack, All 5 Oklahoma US Representatives Still Vote To Oppose Certified Election Results". Public Radio Tulsa. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  30. ^ Walsh, Deirdre (January 20, 2021). "17 House GOP Freshmen Write To Biden About Working Together". NPR. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  31. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 49". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  32. ^ LeBlanc, Paul (May 19, 2021). "Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  33. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  34. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ a b "Committees". Representative Stephanie Bice. January 3, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  36. ^ "About Us". www.ccainstitute.org.
  37. ^ "Lawmakers name appointees to new emerging biotech panel | InsideDefense.com". insidedefense.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  38. ^ "OSCN Case Details". www.oscn.net.
  39. ^ "Oklahoma senator is named 'Friend of Faith'". The Oklahoman. September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  40. ^ "Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results, November 3, 2020". Results.OKElections.us. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  41. ^ "Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results, August 25, 2020". Results.OKElections.us. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  42. ^ "Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results, June 30, 2020". Results.OKElections.us. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  43. ^ Holp, Karen (November 5, 2014). "Now Official: In Many Uncontested Races, Candidates Have Been Winners For Awhile". KGOU.
  44. ^ "Oklahoma State Election Board - 20140826 Runoffprimaryelections". www.ok.gov.
  45. ^ "Oklahoma State Election Board - 20140624 Primaryelections". www.ok.gov.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
2021–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
296th 		Succeeded by
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Bice