Ellyn Novak Hefner is an American politician who has served as a member of the

Oklahoma House of Representatives The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's ...

from the 87th district since November 16, 2022.

Education

She graduated from Mount St. Mary High School in

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Oklahoma, most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat ...

Career

Hefner worked as a lobbyist for

disability rights The disability rights movement is a global social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunities and equal rights for all disabled people. It is made up of organizations of disability activists, also known as disability advocates, around ...

for adults and children with

developmental disabilities Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...

for eighteen years. As of 2022, she also worked as a financial advisor at Mass Mutual.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Hefner announced her campaign for the

' 87th district in

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

to succeed retiring Representative Collin Walke. She was the sole Democratic candidate and did not have a primary. The Edmond Democratic Women's chapter endorsed her. She faced Republican Gloria Banister in the November election. She won the November election and was sworn in on November 16, 2022.

Personal life

Hefner is a widow with three children.

References

Activists from Oklahoma American disability rights activists Living people Democratic Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives 21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature Women state legislators in Oklahoma 21st-century American women politicians Year of birth missing (living people) {{Oklahoma-politician-stub