Bob Ed Culver Jr.

Bob Ed Culver Jr. (born December 16, 1957) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 4th district since 2020.^[1][2]

Bob Ed Culver Jr.
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 16, 2020
Preceded by	Matt Meredith
Personal details
Born	Bob Ed Culver Jr. (1957-12-16) December 16, 1957 (age 66) Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Julie Arrington ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	3
Education	University of Oklahoma (BAS)

Early life

Culver was born on December 16, 1957, to Bob Ed Culver Sr. and Jo Ellen Culver (née Priest) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.^[3][4] He graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1976. He then attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played as an offensive lineman for coach Barry Switzer.^[5] Culver went on to graduate in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.^[6] After college, he went on to run an independent oil and gas company near Canadian, Texas. In 2015, Culver and his family moved back to Tahlequah.^[7]

Political career

Culver first ran for the Oklahoma State House District 40 seat in 2016.^[8] After winning the Republican primary, he lost the general election to Democrat Matt Meredith by 325 votes.^[9] Culver ran for the seat again in 2020. He faced Rep. Meredith again in the general election, but Culver won this time by around 1,400 votes.^[2] With Meredith's defeat, Oklahoma Democrats had lost the last of their legislative seats in rural areas of the state.^[10] Culver was then sworn into office on November 16, 2020.^[11]

As of 2021, Culver is the vice chair of the House Judiciary-Civil Committee. He also serves on the County and Municipal Government Committee, State and Federal Redistricting Northeast Oklahoma Subcommittee, and Transportation Committee.^[12]

In 2024, he voted against HB 3329 which still passed the house floor. It is intended to provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms.^[13]

Personal life

Culver and his wife, Julie, have three children and five grandchildren. He and his family attend Tahlequah First United Methodist Church.^[7] His father, Bob Ed Sr., served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for District 4 from 1990 to 2000.^[4]

Electoral history

2016 Oklahoma House of Representatives

Republican primary election^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Ed Culver Jr.	878	65.0
	Republican	Mike Pope	473	35.0
Total votes			1,351	100.0

General election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Ed Culver Jr.	6,217	48.7	+48.7
	Democratic	Matt Meredith	6,543	51.3	−48.7
Total votes			12,760	100.0
	Democratic hold		Swing

2020 Oklahoma House of Representatives

See also: 2020 Oklahoma House of Representatives election

General election^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Ed Culver Jr.	7,499	55.2	+6.5
	Democratic	Matt Meredith	6,095	44.8	−6.5
Total votes			13,594	100.0
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	+6.5

References

1. "Representative Bob Culver". Okhouse.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
2. Crawford, Grant D. (2020-11-04). "Almost Over: Area races conclude with voters picking two newcomers, two veterans". Tahlequah Daily Press. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
3. "Bob Ed Culver Bio". Legistorm.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
4. "Bob Culver Sr. Obituary". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
5. "Bob Ed Culver Player Stats". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
6. "State House District 4 Bios". Tahlequah Daily Press. 2020-06-20. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
7. "Culver seeking to unseat D4 representative". Tahlequah Daily Press. 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
8. "Culver announces run for his father's old seat in House". Tahlequah Daily Press. 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
9. "Oklahoma 4th District State House Results". New York Times. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
10. Murphy, Sean (2020-11-04). "Rural Democrats become extinct species in Oklahoma". Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
11. Hoberock, Barbara (2020-11-12). "New, re-elected state House members take the oath of office". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
12. "Culver named vice chair of Judiciary-Civil Committee". Associated Press. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
13. "House Votes". webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
14. "2016 June Statewide Primary Results" (PDF). Oklahoma.gov.
15. "State Election Results, General Election, November 8, 2016". Oklahoma.gov. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
16. "OK Election Results, November 3, 2020". Oklahoma.gov.

External links

• Oklahoma State House Member's Page
• Campaign website