Wade Burleson

Wade Burleson

Republican Party

Candidate, U.S. House Oklahoma District 3

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 28, 2022

Next election

June 16, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

East Central University, 1987

Personal

Birthplace

Oklahoma City, OK

Religion

Christian

Profession

Istoria Ministries, President

Contact

Personal Facebook

Wade Burleson (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma's 3rd Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on June 16, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Wade Burleson was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor's degree from East Central University in 1987. His career experience includes working as a istoria ministries, president.

Elections

2026

See also: Oklahoma's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on June 16, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3

Rebekah LaVann (Independent) is running in the general election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Rebekah LaVann (Independent)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3

Suzie Byrd (D) and Jules Roberson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3 on June 16, 2026.

		Candidate
		Suzie Byrd
		Jules Roberson

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3

Incumbent Frank Lucas (R), Wade Burleson (R), and Michael DiMario (R) are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3 on June 16, 2026.

		Candidate
		Frank Lucas
		Wade Burleson
	Submit photo	Michael DiMario

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Endorsements

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2022

See also: Oklahoma's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3

Incumbent Frank Lucas defeated Jeremiah Ross in the general election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Frank Lucas (R)	74.5	147,418
		Jeremiah Ross (D)	25.5	50,354

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 197,772
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jeremiah Ross advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3

Incumbent Frank Lucas defeated Wade Burleson and Stephen Butler in the Republican primary for U.S. House Oklahoma District 3 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Frank Lucas	61.1	44,442
		Wade Burleson	30.6	22,258
	Submit photo	Stephen Butler	8.2	5,997

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 72,697
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Sean Roberts (R)

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Wade Burleson has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Wade Burleson, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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2022

Wade Burleson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Burleson's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Wade Burleson is a podcaster, writer, avocational historian, and former pastor. He is a native Oklahoman. He was pastor of Emmanuel Enid for 30 years, retiring in January 2022. Wade now writes and speaks full-time through his non-profit ministry called ISTORIA MINISTRIES (Istoria is a Greek word which means “to inquire”). Wade’s wife, Dr. Rachelle Burleson (DNP, APRN-CNS) is the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Enid. Wade is a two-time recipient of the Excellence in Broadcasting Award from the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. He has served two terms as President of the Oklahoma Baptist General Convention. Wade received the Distinguished Silver Star from the Tulsa Police Department for his involvement with a task force investigating crimes that involved the occult while serving as Tulsa Police Chaplain (1987-1992). Wade also served as a consultant to NASA’s security office, the Broward County District Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office in Florida in their investigation and ultimate conviction of John Crutchley, the worst serial killer in Florida history. He has been honored by the United States Department of Justice for his work with victims’ families during the aftermath of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing. Wade has been recognized by the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, and the Oklahoma Tourism Office for his

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Protection of Life
• Pursuit of Life
• Promotion of Liberty

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Border Security

We must secure our borders to protect both our citizenry and those who wish to legally enter this great country in order to become a part of it.

Energy Independence
While renewable energy has its place, fossil fuels are abundant and cost-effective. To regain our energy independence, we must encourage fossil fuel production.

Second Amendment
“…shall not be infringed…” (Constitution of the United States, 1789)

Term Limits
Politicians can’t represent people with whom they’ve lost touch. We must adopt term limits to ensure a continuous flow of representatives rising from the ranks of the people.

Freedom
Government should not encroach on its citizens. We must protect our God-given rights, including life (from conception to death), liberty (including speech, religion, press, medical consent, and parental rights), and private property.

Opportunity
Equal opportunity does not mean equal outcomes. Every citizen deserves an opportunity to thrive (or fail) by freely exercising Constitutionally protected liberties.

Ranching/Farming
Oklahoma’s unmatched farmers & ranchers should be free to operate unfettered by government regulations or globalist agendas. They deserve Farm Bill support.

Upholding the Constitution
“The Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” guide good government. Free and fair elections are the foundation of our constitutional government.

Standing Against Anti-American Ideologies

American ideals extend well beyond personal peace & prosperity. I will s

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to men and women who have gone before us and set an example through their lives of service and accomplishment. I am an avid reader of biographies.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Richard Maybury’s books, including “Whatever Happened to Justice?”

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Statesmanship, intellect, and an understanding of the U.S. Constitution.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Determination. An Understanding of U.S. History. People skills.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To provide good government, hold accountable federal agencies who encroach on private citizens, and provide a balanced budget like a family manages their own household finances.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Legacies are determined by others. I desire to be faithful to the Constitution and the American people.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I know this is difficult to believe. I was not quite two years old. I remember the assassination of President Kennedy, specifically watching my mom iron clothes while watching Walter Cronkite announce the President had died and seeing my mom cry.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked at Whataburger in Fort Worth, Texas, when I turned 16. I worked there two years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The History of Ancient Civilizations by Isaac Newton. It tells us that governments come and go, but God remains in control.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Tarzan.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

You Are the Reason – because it was filmed in Kyiv, Ukraine, and I wrote about the song.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

The LORD has turned every struggle into something profitable. No regrets.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Representation – each member represents a certain number of people.

Short Terms – 2 years is briefer than 6-year Senate terms and 4 year Presidential terms.

Lawmaking – Representatives are those who make the laws on a federal level while the Senate Chamber debates and affirms or rejects.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Financial. Our government has squandered trillions of dollars and we are now bankrupt, unable to pay back our debt (over $30 trillion) and our unfunded liabilities (over $73 trillion). The financial system is about to collapse over debt.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Yes. Agriculture and Natural Resources are my top two choices. Intelligence and Armed Services my next.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

N/A

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I am FOR term limits and have already signed a pledge that I will honor.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Abraham Lincoln.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The story of how the EPA is more interested in protecting the American Burying Beetle (ABB) than helping the American Farmer buried in regulations and debt.

Tell us your favorite joke.

First off…I am ok. Thank you for your prayers.
I was robbed at the Chevron in Victorville. After my hands stopped trembling I managed to call the Sheriff, they were quick to respond and calmed me down. My money is gone… the police asked me if I knew who did it. I said, “Yes.. it was pump number 5."

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe the best policies are constitutional in nature and based on principle. One cannot and should not violate the constitution, but if a policy is constitutional, then compromise is desirable in making policy.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Priority number one. Raising revenue for projects and services not part of constitutional government is something I would seek to prevent.

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Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Wade Burleson campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	U.S. House Oklahoma District 3	Lost primary	$254,478	$246,096
Grand total			$254,478	$246,096
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

See also

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Footnotes

[show]

Oklahoma's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alan Armstrong (R)

James Lankford (R)

Representatives

District 1

Kevin Hern (R)

District 2

Josh Brecheen (R)

District 3

Frank Lucas (R)

District 4

Tom Cole (R)

District 5

Stephanie Bice (R)

Republican Party (7)