Josh West | |
Office: | Majority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives |
Term Start: | January 5, 2021 |
Term End: | January 3, 2023 |
Predecessor: | Mike Sanders |
Successor: | Tammy West |
State House1: | Oklahoma |
District1: | 5th |
Term Start1: | January 9, 2017 |
Predecessor1: | Doug Cox |
Birth Place: | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Party: | Republican |
Spouse: | Elizabeth West |
Children: | 4 |
Education: | Missouri Valley College (BA) |
Allegiance: | United States |
Serviceyears: | 1996-2005 |
Mawards: | Bronze Star (with valor) Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal (5) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Army Service Ribbon Afghanistan Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Iraqi Campaign Medal Combat Action Badge Air Assault Badge Expert Field Medical Badge |
Josh West (born September 19, 1976) is an American politician, and military veteran who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2017, representing the 5th district. He was re-elected by default in 2020.[1]
West was born on September 19, 1976, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, he was raised in Grove, Oklahoma.[2] In 1995, West graduated from Grove High School.[2] He then attended Missouri Valley College on a football scholarship.[2]
In 1996, West began training for the US Army.[2] He graduated in 1997.[2] During his combat service, he was deployed to multiple locations, mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq.[2] On October 16, 2003, West was injured in a firefight in Karbala, Iraq.[2] During the firefight, multiple members of his team were killed, including his battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Kim Orlando.[2] At the time Orlando was the highest ranked soldier to die during the Iraq War.[3] During the fighting, West was shot in both legs and in his abdomen.[4] He spent the next year in therapy trying to regain the use of his legs.[4] In 2005, he was medically retired from the US Army after 9 years of service.[4]
When incumbent Doug Cox did not seek re-election due to being term-limited, West was one of three candidates to run in the Republican Party primary.[5] West was victorious with 60.7 percent of the vote.[5]
West defeated Matt Nowlin in the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 5 general election.[5]
During the 56th legislature, West served on the following committees:[5]
West was challenged by Josh Russell, Tonya Rudick and Elizabeth Boney.[5] Nevertheless, West won with 56.5 percent of the vote.[5]
West defeated challenger Ed Trumbull with 68.2 percent of the vote.[5]
During the 57th legislature, West served on the following committees:[5]
Most of West’s political positions are in line with that of the Oklahoma Republican Party. West opposes abortion.[4] West is also a member of the National Rifle Association of America and supports gun rights.[4] West has criticized Barack Obama’s administration, quoting:[4] West also favors local control in education.[4] West opposes Common Core, while at the same time supporting increased pay for teachers, quoting:[4] He was one of twenty early Oklahoma lawmakers who endorsed Ron DeSantis for the 2024 presidential election.[6]
West is married to his wife, Elizabeth, a United States Air Force veteran.[4] They have 4 children.[4] [7]