Randy Grellner Explained

State Senate:Oklahoma
District:21st
Predecessor:Tom Dugger
Term Start:November 13, 2024
Office2:Member of the Cushing Public School Board
Term Start2:2013
Term End2:2019
Party:Republican
Education:Oklahoma State University

Randy Grellner is an American physician and politician who has represented the 21st district of the Oklahoma Senate since 2024.

Early life and career

Randy Grellner is from Kingfisher, Oklahoma and works as a rural physician with a practice in Cushing, Oklahoma.[1] He graduated from Kingfisher High School, Oklahoma State University in 1988 and from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in 1998.[2] He practiced medicine for about 25 years before his election and served on the Cushing Public Schools Board from 2013 to 2019.[3] During the Covid-19 pandemic, he prescribed ivermectin to patients while opposing vaccine mandates and mask mandates.[4] He describes the Covid-19 vaccine as "gene therapy" and called it "not a vaccine."[5] In 2021, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Grellner to the Oklahoma State Board of Health and his term expired in June 2024.[6]

In 2022, he ran in the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma and placed 6th.[7] He unsuccessfully sued Griffin Media after being excluded from a televised debate.[8]

Oklahoma Senate

In 2024, Grellner filed to run for the Oklahoma Senate's 21st district to succeed Tom Dugger. He faced James Winn in the Republican primary, with Kurt Murray filing before withdrawing to endorse Grellner. Grellner won the primary and defeated Democrat Robin Fuxa in the general election.[9] He was sworn in on November 13, 2024.[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: Grellner wins state Senate primary . Kingfisher Times and Free Press . June 23, 2024 . November 7, 2024.
  2. News: McGuigan . Patrick B. . The last shall be first: Dr. Randy Grellner seeks to fill 4-year term resulting from Inhofe retirement . November 7, 2024 . The Oklahoma City Sentinel . April 19, 2022.
  3. News: Marshall . Jessica . Grellner and Fuxa spar over topics in race for Senate District 21 seat . November 7, 2024 . Stillwater News Press . October 25, 2024 . en.
  4. News: Clark . Janna . Doctors examine the benefits and dangers of Ivermectin . November 7, 2024 . August 26, 2021.
  5. News: Hancock . Andrea . Fuxa, Grellner trade barbs in Senate District 21 debate . 7 November 2024 . NonDoc . 24 October 2024.
  6. News: Brinkman . Bennett . Grellner, Fuxa to debate in Stillwater-area SD 21 race . November 7, 2024 . NonDoc . October 11, 2024.
  7. News: Brinkman . Bennett . SD 21 Republican primary pits rancher against doctor . 7 November 2024 . NonDoc . 10 June 2024.
  8. News: Oklahoma Judge Denies U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Randy Grellner an opportunity to debate opponents . November 7, 2024 . The Oklahoma City Sentinel . June 7, 2022.
  9. News: Marshall . Jessica . Grellner secures Senate District 21 seat . November 7, 2024 . Stillwater News Press . November 5, 2024 . en.
  10. News: Hoberock . Barbara . Oklahoma state senators take oath of office . November 14, 2024 . Oklahoma Voice . November 13, 2024.