Owasso Resident Announces Run For Congress
SEEKING ELECTION: Andy Coleman has announced his run for U.S. Congress, to take the seat of Congressman Jim Bridenstine, who will not seek reelection in 2018. Coleman graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and, most recently, led field efforts in the Middle East for The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM).
Owasso resident Andy Coleman has announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress, to represent Oklahoma’s First Congressional District.
The district is currently represented by Congressman Jim Bridenstine, who previously announced his intention not to seek reelection following the current term.
The Republican primary election for this seat is not scheduled until 2018.
The reason for Coleman’s early announcement?—“because of my unique background that has kept me out of the public eye,” he says. “I need more time to introduce myself to the voters and to share my message.”
For the last several years, Coleman led all field efforts in the Middle East for The Voice of the Martyrs (), a Bartlesville-based Christian ministry that helps persecuted Christians in the world’s most difficult countries.
He traveled throughout the region 80 to 100 days each year to encourage and equip local Christians who were facing intense pressure. In his role, Coleman oversaw a portfolio totaling millions of dollars annually, spread over hundreds of individual field projects.
Prior to his role with , Coleman served as a military intelligence officer and focused on threat trends throughout North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. He deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the U.S. Army during the surge of 2007 and 2008.
He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he double majored in foreign area studies and political science.
Coleman also attended the University of Kansas School of Law. As a law student, he served as an editor on the Law Review and as a leader of the school’s Christian Legal Society and Federalist Society chapters. He also became a Blackstone Fellow with the Alliance Defense Fund. Coleman briefly entered private legal practice with a large, international law firm, but soon felt himself called into full-time ministry with .
Recently, Coleman announced the recent employment of his campaign’s senior staff team. KaLeigh Long, native to Oklahoma’s First District, serves as campaign manager. Deputy campaign manager Alex Meyer and political director Sara Wajda have also signed on to the Coleman campaign after successful campaign runs in 2016.
Long successfully staffed and consulted campaigns in toss-up federal races in 2016 and played a key role in 17 winning campaigns last year. Her previous work at the National Pro-Life Alliance, Leadership Institute and U.S. Senate gives her a unique insight into the issues most important to conservative Oklahomans,” says Coleman.
Meyer has worked on U.S. Senate and U.S. Congressional races in Iowa, Florida and Colorado.
Wajda comes fresh off an unexpected victory with Congressman Don Bacon’s (R–NE-02) campaign, in which she served in a senior staff role. Previously working with the National Right to Work Committee, Wajda understands the need to elect limited government conservatives.
To learn more about the campaign, visit www.AndyColeman.org.
Updated 05-30-2017
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