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Johnathon Shepherd
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Johnathon Shepherd (Republican Party) ran in a special election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives to represent District 74. He lost in the special Republican primary on April 1, 2025.
Shepherd completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2025
See also: Oklahoma state legislative special elections, 2025
General election
Special general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74
Kevin Norwood defeated Amy Hossain in the special general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74 on June 10, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin Norwood (R) | 64.6 | 1,727 |
 | Amy Hossain (D)  | 35.4 | 945 | |
| Total votes: 2,672 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Special Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74
Kevin Norwood defeated Sheila Vancuren in the special Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74 on May 13, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Norwood | 51.4 | 757 |
| Sheila Vancuren | 48.6 | 715 | ||
| Total votes: 1,472 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Amy Hossain advanced from the special Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74.
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74
Sheila Vancuren and Kevin Norwood advanced to a runoff. They defeated Maggie Stearman, Johnathon Shepherd, and Bradley Peixotto in the special Republican primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74 on April 1, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Sheila Vancuren | 28.3 | 595 | |
| ✔ | | Kevin Norwood | 20.6 | 434 |
 | Maggie Stearman | 18.0 | 379 | |
 | Johnathon Shepherd | 17.4 | 367 | |
| Bradley Peixotto | 15.6 | 329 | ||
| Total votes: 2,104 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Shepherd in this election.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Johnathon Shepherd completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Shepherd's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am Johnathon Shepherd, a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and dedicated community servant. After serving my country honorably in the United States Marine Corps, where I worked as a CH-46E helicopter crew chief and mechanic, I transitioned to civilian life and built several successful Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses focused on creating meaningful career opportunities for veterans. In 2016, my wife Jessica and I founded Eagle OPS Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting veterans with resources and fostering community support. Through Eagle OPS, we now host over 20 social events each month, creating vital opportunities for veterans and families to connect. I am also an active member of the Owasso Chamber of Commerce Board and a past Chairman of the Board, as well as an engaged member of the Owasso Character Council. My ongoing commitment to these roles reflects my dedication to serving the community of Owasso and the state of Oklahoma. As a devoted family man and passionate advocate, I am committed to strengthening our communities, supporting veterans, and ensuring Oklahoma families thrive. I am now seeking to continue this mission by serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for District 74.
- I have dedicated my life to serving others—first in the Marine Corps, then as a business owner creating jobs for veterans, and now through the Eagle OPS Foundation. I understand the challenges veterans face during the transition from military to civilian life because I've lived it. When I returned home from my Marine Corps service, I struggled to find purpose and direction. It was through reconnecting with fellow veterans and building Eagle OPS that I rediscovered my mission—helping others make that same transition successfully. This experience drives my commitment to ensuring all Oklahomans have access to the resources they need to succeed.
- I believe that Oklahoma’s strength comes from strong families and safe neighborhoods. For example, through my work with Eagle OPS Foundation, I have seen how hosting hundreds of social events over the last 8 years has fostered meaningful connections among families and veterans, reducing isolation and strengthening community bonds. I will advocate for policies that support parental rights, promote quality education, and ensure our communities have the resources they need to protect our citizens. I will work to support law enforcement, first responders, and community organizations that foster safety and security in District 74.
- Having faced my own struggles during my transition from military service, including battling feelings of isolation and uncertainty about my future, I know firsthand the importance of accessible mental health services and community support. I will fight to improve mental health care, expand resources for veterans, and ensure our state prioritizes suicide prevention efforts. Oklahoma can lead the nation in honoring those who served by providing them the care and resources they deserve.
Building on my experience with Eagle OPS and community engagement, I am passionate about supporting veterans, strengthening families, and promoting economic growth. My work with Eagle OPS has shown me the power of strong relationships and access to resources in transforming lives. I will champion policies that expand mental health services, improve access to quality healthcare, and empower Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) to connect with at-risk individuals. Additionally, I am committed to fostering economic development by encouraging small businesses, reducing burdensome regulations, and supporting workforce training to create job opportunities for all Oklahomans.
Integrity, accountability, and a commitment to service are essential characteristics for any elected official. Leaders must listen to their constituents, remain transparent in their actions, and demonstrate a willingness to put the needs of their community above personal or political gain.
I believe my success as an officeholder will stem from my strong sense of accountability, integrity, and dedication to serving others. My Marine Corps background instilled in me these selfless leadership traits as well as the values of fortitude and determination, while my experiences as a nonprofit leader and entrepreneur have given me the drive and focus needed to solve complex challenges. Above all, my faith in God and commitment to doing what’s right guide my decisions and ensure I always put my community’s needs first.
An elected representative must advocate for the needs of their district, create and support legislation that strengthens Oklahoma families and communities, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. In addition, representatives must actively engage with their constituents to stay informed on local concerns and priorities. This is one great thing about 2 year terms, it really requires a representative to stay connected to their constituents to stay in office.
I want my legacy to be one of service, compassion, and impact. Most importantly, I want to be remembered as a good husband and father who led first with my faith in God. I hope to be remembered as someone who dedicated his life to building stronger communities, supporting veterans, and empowering others to overcome challenges and thrive.
The earliest historical event I vividly remember is the Challenger explosion in 1986. I was in 3rd grade at the time, and I remember the shock and sadness that swept across our school and small town. It was a powerful reminder of the risks that come with pushing boundaries and striving for greatness.
One of my favorite books is Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. It’s a powerful story of resilience, loyalty, and courage, reminding me of the values that I strive to uphold in my personal and professional life.
Transitioning from military service to civilian life was one of the greatest struggles I faced. Finding my purpose outside of the Marine Corps was difficult, but through reconnecting with fellow veterans and building Eagle OPS, I found a new mission that continues to inspire me everyday .
While previous experience can be helpful, I believe real-world experience—especially in community service, small business ownership, or nonprofit leadership—is more valuable. Understanding the day-to-day struggles faced by Oklahomans helps leaders create effective, meaningful policy solutions.
Absolutely. Building strong, bipartisan relationships with other legislators is key to advancing meaningful legislation. By finding common ground, we can create solutions that serve all Oklahomans, regardless of political affiliation.
I am particularly interested in committees that address veterans' affairs, public safety, mental health, and economic development. These areas align closely with my personal and professional experiences, and I believe I can make a meaningful impact in these roles.
I believe financial transparency is crucial in ensuring public trust. I support clear reporting of government spending, strict accountability for state-funded programs, and responsible budgeting that prioritizes education, public safety, and mental health services. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent.
I support ensuring the ballot initiative process remains fair, transparent, and accessible to all Oklahomans. I believe any changes must protect voters' ability to participate directly in the legislative process while preventing manipulation by special interest groups.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Current members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Kyle Hilbert
Majority Leader:Mark Lawson
Representatives
District 1
Eddy Dempsey (R)
District 2
Jim Olsen (R)
District 3
Rick West (R)
District 4
Bob Culver (R)
District 5
Josh West (R)
District 6
Rusty Cornwell (R)
District 7
Steve Bashore (R)
District 8
Tom Gann (R)
District 9
Mark Lepak (R)
District 10
Judd Strom (R)
District 11
John Kane (R)
District 12
Mark Chapman (R)
District 13
Neil Hays (R)
District 14
Chris Sneed (R)
District 15
Tim Turner (R)
District 16
Scott Fetgatter (R)
District 17
Jim Grego (R)
District 18
David Smith (R)
District 19
Justin Humphrey (R)
District 20
Jonathan Wilk (R)
District 21
Cody Maynard (R)
District 22
Ryan Eaves (R)
District 23
District 24
Chris Banning (R)
District 25
Ronny Johns (R)
District 26
Dell Kerbs (R)
District 27
Danny Sterling (R)
District 28
Danny Williams (R)
District 29
Kyle Hilbert (R)
District 30
Mark Lawson (R)
District 31
Collin Duel (R)
District 32
Jim Shaw (R)
District 33
Molly Jenkins (R)
District 34
Trish Ranson (D)
District 35
Ty Burns (R)
District 36
John George (R)
District 37
Ken Luttrell (R)
District 38
John Pfeiffer (R)
District 39
Erick Harris (R)
District 40
Chad Caldwell (R)
District 41
Denise Hader (R)
District 42
Cynthia Roe (R)
District 43
Jay Steagall (R)
District 44
Jared Deck (D)
District 45
Annie Menz (D)
District 46
Jacob Rosecrants (D)
District 47
Brian Hill (R)
District 48
Tammy Townley (R)
District 49
Josh Cantrell (R)
District 50
Stacy Adams (R)
District 51
Brad Boles (R)
District 52
Gerrid Kendrix (R)
District 53
Jason Blair (R)
District 54
Kevin West (R)
District 55
Nick Archer (R)
District 56
Dick Lowe (R)
District 57
Anthony Moore (R)
District 58
Carl Newton (R)
District 59
Mike Dobrinski (R)
District 60
Mike Kelley (R)
District 61
District 62
Daniel Pae (R)
District 63
Hurchel Caldwell (R)
District 64
Rande Worthen (R)
District 65
Toni Hasenbeck (R)
District 66
Clay Staires (R)
District 67
Rob Hall (R)
District 68
Mike Lay (R)
District 69
Mark Tedford (R)
District 70
District 71
Amanda Clinton (D)
District 72
Michelle McCane (D)
District 73
Ron Stewart (D)
District 74
Kevin Norwood (R)
District 75
T. Marti (R)
District 76
Ross Ford (R)
District 77
John Waldron (D)
District 78
Meloyde Blancett (D)
District 79
District 80
Stan May (R)
District 81
Mike Osburn (R)
District 82
Nicole Miller (R)
District 83
Eric Roberts (R)
District 84
Tammy West (R)
District 85
Cyndi Munson (D)
District 86
David Hardin (R)
District 87
Ellyn Hefner (D)
District 88
Ellen Pogemiller (D)
District 89
District 90
Emily Gise (R)
District 91
Chris Kannady (R)
District 92
Forrest Bennett (D)
District 93
Mickey Dollens (D)
District 94
Andy Fugate (D)
District 95
Max Wolfley (R)
District 96
Preston Stinson (R)
District 97
District 98
Gabe Woolley (R)
District 99
Ajay Pittman (D)
District 100
Marilyn Stark (R)
District 101
Robert Manger (R)
Republican Party (81)
Democratic Party (20)
