Andrew Rice

Andrew Rice

Rice at a parade in Oklahoma City
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 46th district
In office
November 2006 – January 15, 2012
Preceded by Bernest Cain
Succeeded by Al McAffrey
Personal details
Born (1973-04-23) April 23, 1973
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Dr. Apple Newman Rice
Alma mater Christchurch School,
Colby College,
Harvard University
Occupation Non-profit director
For the U.S. academic and Peace Corps founder, see Andrew E. Rice.

Andrew Monroe Rice (born April 23, 1973) is a civic leader and American politician from Oklahoma. He represented Senate District 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate. He was also a failed candidate for the United States Senate, losing to incumbent U.S. Senator James Inhofe. Rice lost a brother in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Rice serves as Foundation Fundraising Director of Variety Care health systems in Central Oklahoma, a non-profit group which serves moderate income families with health care.

Rice resigned from his Senate seat January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.

Early life

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Rice attended Casady School and graduated from Christchurch School. In 1996, he graduated from Colby College with a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and in 1999 he earned his masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1]

From 1996 to 1997 Rice studied drug addiction problems and treatment in urban India. During graduate school, Rice produced a documentary entitled From Ashes which focused on the AIDS epidemic in India.[1]

In 2001, Rice's brother, David Harlow Rice, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.[2]

State Senate

After winning the Democratic party's three-way primary for Senate district 46 on July 25, 2006, Rice won the general election garnering 69.5 percent of the vote. He was sworn into office on November 16, 2006.[3]

Rice's Senate district encompasses downtown and the urban core of Oklahoma City and covers approximately 71,000 people.[4]

In 2010, Rice was re-elected to the Oklahoma State Senate with 68 percent of the vote. For the 2011 & 2012 legislation sessions, Rice was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader making him the highest ranking Democrat in state government.[5]

On October 18, 2011, Rice announced his resignation effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.[6]

Sponsored Legislation

Senator Rice addressing a crowd in Oklahoma City

*Cosponsored and helped pass legislation called the "All Kids Act" to add 38,000 Oklahoma children to those eligible for government-sponsored health insurance.

2008 U.S. Senate Election

Rice officially filed as a candidate for the United States Senate from Oklahoma on Monday, June 2, 2008.[7] He won the Democratic primary against Jim Rogers on July 29, 2008 but was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2008 by incumbent James Inhofe.[8]

Personal

Rice is the founder of the Progressive Alliance Foundation which works throughout the state of Oklahoma advancing progressive, fair-minded and constitutional solutions to public policy problems. He also launched the Red River Democracy Project and is on the board of The People's Opinion Project.

Rice is married to Dr. Apple Newman Rice who practices medicine in Oklahoma City. They have two sons and reside in Oklahoma City.[9]

Electoral History

2010 Oklahoma General Election - Senate District 46 [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Andrew Rice 7,548 68.28%
Republican Joshua Jantz 3,507 31.72%
2008 Oklahoma General Election - U.S. Senate [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Inhofe 763,375 56.68%
Democratic Andrew Rice 527,736 39.18%
Independent Stephen P. Wallace 55,708 4.14%
2008 Oklahoma Democratic Primary Election - U.S. Senate [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Andrew Rice 113,795 59.65%
Democratic Jim Rogers 76,981 40.35%
2006 Oklahoma General Election - Senate District 46 [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Andrew Rice 7,342 69.53%
Republican Joshua Jantz 3,217 30.47%
2006 Oklahoma Democratic Primary Election - Senate District 46 [13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Andrew Rice 2,383 60.90%
Democratic Rhonda Rudd 1,084 27.70%
Democratic Drew Dugan 446 11.40%

References

  1. 1 2 Oklahoma Senate Biography, Oklahoma Senate.
  2. ↑ America welcomes Andrew Rice, Firedoglake.com.
  3. ↑ Summary Results, November 16, 2006 General Election, Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed May 15, 2013)
  4. ↑ District Map, Oklahoma Senate.
  5. ↑ Rice, Crain discuss Senate issues and more with Bricktown Rotarians
  6. ↑ Senator Rice resigning seat, Shawnee News-Star (accessed May 15, 2013)
  7. ↑ http://www.ok.gov/elections/cflist08.html
  8. ↑ 2008 General Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board
  9. ↑ http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/rice_bio.html
  10. ↑ 2010 elections, Oklahoma State Election Board
  11. 1 2 General Election 2008, Oklahoma State Election Board
  12. ↑ http://www.ok.gov/elections/The_Archives/Election_Results/2006_Election_Results/General_Election_2006.html
  13. ↑ http://www.ok.gov/elections/The_Archives/Election_Results/2006_Election_Results/Primary_Election_2006.html

External links

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