| State House: | Oklahoma |
| District: | 98th |
| Term Start: | November 20, 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Dean Davis |
| Birth Name: | Gabriel Christian Woolley |
| Birth Place: | Jackson, Michigan, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 17 September 1994 |
| Party: | Republican |
| Residence: | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Education: | Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
Gabriel Christian Woolley (born September 17, 1994) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 98th district since 2024.
Gabriel Christian Woolley was born on September 17, 1994, in Jackson, Michigan.[1] He graduated from Tulsa Technology Center in 2012, Tulsa Hope Academy (a private Christian high school) in 2013, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 2020.[2] 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.[3] 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."[4]
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.[5] While teaching he used PragerU videos.[6] 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.[7] [8]
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.[9] Woolley advanced to an August runoff alongside Davis.[10] In July, he spoke at a rally against child protective services in West Virginia.[11] 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.[12]
He defeated Davis in the August runoff election with just over 50% of the vote.[13] He defeated Democratic candidate Cathy Smythe in the November general election.[14] The Oklahoman described Woolley as an "uber-conservative."[15]
Woolley was sworn in by Dustin Rowe on November 20, 2024.[16] Later that month, Woolley voiced support for a grand jury investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.[17]
Woolley identifies as a "former member of the LGBTQ community" and has argued LQBT people should not be allowed to adopt children. He also opposes access to transgender health care for children.