Andrew Rice
Encyclopedia
Andrew Monroe Rice is an American politician
from Oklahoma
currently representing Senate District 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate. He resigned from his Senate seat effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.
, Rice attended Casady School
and graduated from Christchurch School
. In 1996, he graduated from Colby College
with a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies
and in 1999 he earned his masters in Theological Studies
from Harvard Divinity School
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
From 1996 to 1997 Rice studied drug addiction problems and treatment in urban India
. During graduate school, Rice produced a documentary entitled From Ashes which focused on the AIDS epidemic in India.
In 2001, Rice's brother, David Harlow Rice, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Rice's Senate district encompasses downtown and the urban core of Oklahoma City
and covers approximately 71,000 people.
In 2010, Rice was re-elected to the Oklahoma State Senate with 68 percent of the vote. For the 2011 & 2012 legislation sessions, Rice was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader making him the highest ranking Democrat in state government.
On October 18, 2011, Rice announced his resignation effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.
*Cosponsored and helped pass legislation called the "All Kids Act" to add 38,000 Oklahoma children to those eligible for government-sponsored health insurance.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
currently representing Senate District 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate. He resigned from his Senate seat effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.
Early life
Born and raised in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Rice attended Casady School
Casady School
Casady School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma founded in 1947 by Bishop Thomas Casady and the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. Casady serves children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th. Casady believes in educating mind, body, and...
and graduated from Christchurch School
Christchurch School
Christchurch School is a college-preparatory boarding school in Christchurch, Virginia, founded in 1921 by the Episcopal Church Diocese of Virginia and highly regarded for its dynamic, place-based Great Journeys Begin at the River program. The school enrolls slightly more than 200 students,...
. In 1996, he graduated from Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
with a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
and in 1999 he earned his masters in Theological Studies
Theological Studies
Theological Studies is a quarterly academic journal published by the Society of Jesus in the United States. It is published at Marquette University....
from Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
From 1996 to 1997 Rice studied drug addiction problems and treatment in urban India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. During graduate school, Rice produced a documentary entitled From Ashes which focused on the AIDS epidemic in India.
In 2001, Rice's brother, David Harlow Rice, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
State Senate
After winning the Democratic party's three-way primary for Senate district 46 on July 25, 2006, Rice won the general election garnering 69.5 percent of the vote. He was sworn into office on November 16, 2006.Rice's Senate district encompasses downtown and the urban core of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
and covers approximately 71,000 people.
In 2010, Rice was re-elected to the Oklahoma State Senate with 68 percent of the vote. For the 2011 & 2012 legislation sessions, Rice was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader making him the highest ranking Democrat in state government.
On October 18, 2011, Rice announced his resignation effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.
Senate Committees
- Appropriation Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services
- Business and Labor
- Criminal Jurisprudence
- Health and Human Resources—Co-Chair
- Public Safety and Homeland Security
Sponsored Legislation
- Led a successful effort to make it easier for local governments to donate abandoned properties for use by Habitat for Humanity to construct affordable housing, especially in rural Oklahoma.
- Co-author of the legislation creating the Hunger Task Force to tackle the problem of hunger in Oklahoma.
- Authored legislation creating a state Veterans Health Insurance Program that provides coverage to uninsured Oklahoma veterans. The legislation was passed by the senate with 45–1 vote.
2008 U.S. Senate Election
Rice officially filed as a candidate for the United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
on Monday, June 2, 2008. He won the Democratic primary against Jim Rogers on July 29, 2008 but was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2008 by incumbent James Inhofe.
Personal
Rice is the founder of the Progressive Alliance Foundation which works throughout the state of OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
advancing progressive, fair-minded and constitutional solutions to public policy problems. He also launched the Red River Democracy Project and is on the board of The People's Opinion Project.
Rice is married to Dr. Apple Newman Rice who practices medicine in Oklahoma CityOklahoma cityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. They have two sons and reside in Oklahoma CityOklahoma cityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
.
Electoral History
External links
- Senator Andrew Rice at the Oklahoma State Senate
- Andrew Rice for U.S. Senate official campaign website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org