John Sparks (Oklahoma)
John Sparks is a former Democratic member of the Oklahoma State Senate, representing District 16 from 2006 to 2018. Sparks served as state Senate minority leader from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as assistant minority floor leader.
Sparks was unable to run for re-election in 2018 to the Oklahoma State Senate because he was term-limited.
Biography
Sparks earned his A.B. from Harvard College in 1991 and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1994. He was a founding partner of the law firm Odom, Sparks, Jones & Kerr.[1]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Wildlife |
| • Appropriations |
| • Business, Commerce, and Tourism |
| • Judiciary |
| • Retirement and Insurance |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sparks served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Education |
| • Energy |
| • Insurance, Vice-Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Sparks served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Finance |
| • Insurance, Vice chair |
| • Rules |
| • Veterans and Military Affairs |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sparks served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Finance |
| • Retirement and Insurance |
| • Rules |
| • Tourism and Wildlife |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sparks served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Finance |
| • Retirement and Insurance |
| • Senate Rules |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2018
- See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2018
John Sparks was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2014
- See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2014. Incumbent John Sparks was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Sparks was unchallenged in the general election.[2][3][4]
2010
- See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2010
Sparks won re-election to the Oklahoma State Senate against Sharon Parker (R). Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections on July 27, 2010. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[5][6][7][8]
| Oklahoma State Senate, District 16 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 John Sparks (D)
|
10,507 | |||
| Sharon Parker (R) | 9,460 | |||
2006
- See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2006
On November 7, 2006, Sparks was elected to Oklahoma State Senate District 16. He defeated Ron Davis (R) in the general election.[9]
| Oklahoma State Senate District 16 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| JOHN SPARKS (D)
|
10,988 | |||
| RON DAVIS (R) | 7,874 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2025.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2024.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Oklahoma Second Amendment Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on a variety of issues of interest to the organization.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- The Petroleum Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the oil and gas industry.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2023.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- Oklahoma Second Amendment Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on a variety of issues of interest to the organization.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- The Petroleum Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the oil and gas industry.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2022.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Oklahoma Second Amendment Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on a variety of issues of interest to the organization.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- The Petroleum Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the oil and gas industry.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2021.
- Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to children's interests.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2020.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2019.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2018.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2017.
- Oklahoma Second Amendment Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to firearms policy.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2016.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to growth and development of the Oklahoma City region.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2015.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to growth and development of the Oklahoma City region.
- OCPA Impact — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Oklahoma Second Amendment Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2014.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2013.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to growth and development of the Oklahoma City region.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2012.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to growth and development of the Oklahoma City region.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Sierra Club Oklahoma — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2011.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to growth and development of the Oklahoma City region.
- Research Institute for Economic Development — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution — Legislators are scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sparks was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma. At the time of his service in the state Senate, he was married to Elizabeth Sneed Sparks and they had two children. They resided in Norman, Oklahoma.[1]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms John Sparks Oklahoma Senate. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Oklahoma State Senate
- Senate Committees
- Oklahoma State Legislature
- Oklahoma state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Senator Sparks LinkedIn
- Senator Sparks' Facebook
- Campaign contributions via OpenSecrets
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Sen. John Sparks," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Candidates for State Elective Officials 2014," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official Results Statewide Primary Election — June 24, 2014," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official General Election Results, Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races — November 4, 2014," accessed November 5, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Oklahoma Candidates for State Elective Office 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Summary Results Primary Election — July 27, 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Summary Results Runoff Primary Election — August 24, 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Summary Results General Election — November 2, 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Oklahoma State Senate official general election results for 2006," accessed May 25, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Oklahoma State Senate District 16 2006–2018 |
Succeeded by Mary Boren (D) |
