Gabe Woolley

Gabriel Christian Woolley is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma [House of Representatives] representing the 98th district since 2024.

Early life and career

Gabriel Christian Woolley was born on September 17, 1994, in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated from Tulsa Technology Center in 2012, Tulsa Hope Academy in 2013, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 2020. His parents, William 'Bill' Woolley and Lisa Woolley, have been in a custody dispute over Woolley's nephew. The couple lost custody after being charged with the death of their grandson Elijah. Charges were later dropped after it was determined Elijah died of sudden [infant death syndrome], but Elijah's brother was not returned to the family. Woolley runs the Rescue Clayton Podcast and Oklahoma Lion Media. He has partnered with Red River Media to create documentaries on his nephew's custody battle and criticizing "gender ideology."
He grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and worked in education for nine years including for Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa Honor Academy, and in Phoenix, Arizona. While teaching he used PragerU videos. He was an Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs J. Rufus Fears Fellow, named after professor J. Rufus Fears, and member of the Steamboat Institute's emerging leaders council.

Oklahoma House

In 2024, Woolley ran against incumbent Dean Davis to represent the 98th district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Republican June primary also included J. David Taylor. Woolley advanced to an August runoff alongside Davis. In July, he spoke at a rally against child protective services in West Virginia. The director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Deborah Shropshire, resigned after Woolley's family and Governor Kevin Stitt's father John Stitt public criticized the agency in August 2024. Stitt denied that Shropshire's resignation was related to Woolley's family's complaints.
He defeated Davis in the August runoff election with just over 50% of the vote. He defeated Democratic candidate Cathy Smythe in the November general election.

Tenure

Woolley was sworn in by Dustin Rowe on November 20, 2024. Later that month, Woolley voiced support for a grand jury investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. He was one of three state legislators, alongside Julia Kirt and Dick Lowe, to attend the December 2024 Oklahoma State Board of Education executive session after Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued an attorney general's opinion requiring the board to allow legislator to observe the meeting.

Committee positions

Woolley served as the vice chair of the general government committee in the 60th Oklahoma Legislature.

Political positions

The Oklahoman described Woolley as an "uber-conservative."

Education

Woolley supports the inclusion of the history of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre in state history standards. He also supported Ryan Walters' proposed social studies standards prominent inclusion of the Bible.

Energy

Woolley spoke in opposition to wind and solar power in January 2025 alongside Attorney General Gentner Drummond and State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

LGBTQ+ rights

Woolley identifies as a "former member of the LGBTQ community" and has argued LGBTQ people should not be allowed to adopt children. He also opposes access to transgender health care for children.

Paganism

Woolley criticized the Tulsa City Council for allowing a neopagan member of the faerie faith to give the invocation for one of their meetings, describing the prayer as "satanic."

Turnpikes

Woolley is a critic of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's power to raise the rate on toll roads in the state. He supports requiring a vote of the Oklahoma Legislature to approve proposed rate increases.