Republican T.W. Shannon is running for Oklahoma lieutenant governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Shannon, whose full name is Tahrohon Wayne Shannon, has held elected office and private-sector leadership roles across the state.

The following profile is based on Shannon's campaign responses, public records and biographical data. Statements attributed to Shannon or his campaign reflect the candidate's own claims.

Candidate information

  • Full name: Tahrohon Wayne Shannon
  • Party: Republican
  • Office sought: Oklahoma lieutenant governor
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Born: Feb. 24, 1978, in Lawton, Oklahoma
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in communication, Cameron University; law degree, Oklahoma City University

Experience and public service

Shannon represented District 62 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015, according to BallotReady. He served as speaker of the Oklahoma House in 2013 and 2014, according to Wikipedia. Shannon's campaign says he made history as the youngest speaker of the Oklahoma House and the first African-American and Chickasaw to hold the position.

Before entering the Legislature, Shannon worked as a field representative for the offices of U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, according to Wikipedia.

In the private sector, Shannon served as president and CEO of Shannon Strategies LLC from 2004 to 2014, according to BallotReady. He was vice president of business development at Gabbard and Company from 2009 to 2010. He then served as managing director at Premier Advisory Group/Premier Capital Partners from 2014 to 2017. He has served as chief executive officer of Chickasaw Community Bank since 2017, according to BallotReady. He also served as chief administrative officer at Chickasaw Nation Enterprises, according to Wikipedia.

Shannon also held federal roles. He served as senior advisor on rural prosperity at the United States Department of Agriculture in 2025 and 2026, according to Wikipedia. BallotReady lists an additional role as senior advisor at the White House.

On the issues

Economy: Shannon's campaign says he supports "cutting red tape that kills jobs and opportunity."

No additional policy positions were provided through the candidate's campaign responses.

Endorsements

Shannon's campaign website says he has been endorsed by:

  • Donald Trump

Candidate information in this profile is drawn from Shannon's campaign website, BallotReady and Wikipedia. Policy positions reflect the candidate's own statements.