LAWTON, Okla. — March 25, 2026 (The Oklahoma Post)
President Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed T.W. Shannon for Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor, posting his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Truth Social and calling Shannon an America First leader who has supported his movement from the start.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse T.W. Shannon, an America First Patriot,” Trump wrote, pointing to Shannon’s record as the youngest Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, his role as National Chair of Black Voices for Trump and his service as a senior appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Trump also cited his own margins in the state, noting he won all 77 Oklahoma counties in 2016, 2020 and 2024, calling Shannon the candidate to carry that coalition forward.
Shannon, a Lawton native of Chickasaw and African-American descent, made history in 2013 as the first African-American and Chickasaw to serve as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He left the speakership in 2014 to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate, lost again to Markwayne Mullin in the 2022 Senate primary, then joined the Trump administration in April 2025. He announced his lieutenant governor campaign in January 2026 after stepping away from his federal role.
“I’m deeply honored to have President Trump’s Complete and Total Endorsement,” Shannon said. “I was proud to stand with him then, and I’ll continue that fight for Oklahoma as your next Lieutenant Governor.”
Shannon enters the race as the frontrunner in a crowded Republican primary that also includes State Auditor Cindy Byrd, state Sen. Darrell Weaver, Rep. J.J. Humphrey, Victor Flores and Brian Hill. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Shannon was already leading in polling before Tuesday’s endorsement, according to the Sooner Survey, which cited his 68 percent name identification among Republican primary voters.
Shannon’s platform focuses on cutting taxes and regulations, supporting agriculture, securing the border, strengthening law enforcement and defending the Second Amendment. Candidate filing opens April 1. The Republican primary is June 16.
More information is available at votetwshannon.com. Media inquiries can be directed to Gardner Roby or Gardner@VoteTWShannon.com
Writing By: Robbie Robertson | Editing by Robbie Robertson
Editor’s Note: This article is based in part on a press release provided by the Shannon campaign.
Sources
Trump Truth Social endorsement post: trumpstruth.org
USDA presidential appointments, April 2025: usda.gov
Wikipedia, T.W. Shannon: en.wikipedia.org
Sooner Survey polling via Southwest Ledger: southwestledger.news
CityNewsOKC endorsement coverage: citynewsokc.com
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