Oklahoma is failing our kids. We are currently ranked 50th in education and Oklahoma has cut education funding deeper than any other state in the nation. Our kids deserve better. Our schools are losing teachers because teachers can make at least $10,000 more in any neighboring state. Chelsey will fight for our public schools; restoring full funding to our classrooms and paying teachers what they deserve. She will make college and technical training affordable and expand job readiness programs that help Oklahomans get to work.

Chelsey has worked directly with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She's seen how our broken systems fail the people who need help most. Oklahoma incarcerates more women than any other state, and mostly for nonviolent crimes. Skyrocketing prison costs drain money from our schools. Racial disparities in arrest and use of force have eroded trust between law enforcement and minority communities. Chelsey believes that responsible criminal justice reforms can strengthen the entire community and save taxpayer dollars.That’s why Chelsey worked with Police and Community Trust (PACT) to build bridges between law enforcement and communities, which improves safety for everyone. In the Legislature, Chelsey will redirect money from prisons to programs that rebuild communities and keep families together.

Oklahoma’s economy isn’t working for working families. We rely on just a few major industries, making it nearly impossible to balance our budget or create good-paying, stable jobs. We’ve put all our eggs in a few baskets, and when the economy dips, our neighbors pay the price. Deep cuts have hit public schools, hospitals, and mental health programs. Chelsey will diversify our economy by investing in people. That means strong public schools, affordable college and technical training, and job programs that prepare Oklahomans for high-paying jobs in growing industries. She’ll support local entrepreneurs and small businesses with smart tax incentives, not just giveaways to out-of-state corporations. Chelsey will help transition our energy workforce to renewable sources by bringing current workers to the table instead of leaving them behind. Cheley will also encourage deep investment in film, tourism, and the arts because people thrive in vibrant, beautiful communities.

During her time at the YWCA of Oklahoma City, Chelsey worked on the Infant and Maternal Mortality Alliance. Chelsey has also served as Executive Director of an HIV and harm reduction service nonprofit. Through her career, she has seen firsthand the devastating consequences for Oklahoma’s most vulnerable residents. Oklahoma ranks among the unhealthiest states in America. We have high rates of people experiencing drug addiction, infant mortality, and untreated mental illness. Too many Oklahomans lack health insurance and access to basic care. Each of these shortcomings create barriers to a vibrant growing economy and contribute to our unmanageable incarceration rate. Chelsey will expand access to healthcare, increase mental health services and defend reproductive freedom. After developing health problems, Chelsey spent nearly two years trying to get an appointment with a specialist. Like many of us, she knows the system is broken from her own experience navigating it and she’ll fight to fix it.