{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Forrest Bennett | image = File:Bennett_Forrest_be5532d20d.jpg | caption = | office = President of the Oklahoma AFL-CIO | predecessor = Jimmy Curry | successor = | term_start = November 7, 2025 | term_end = | state_house1 = Oklahoma | district1 = 92nd | term_start1 = November 17, 2016 | term_end1 = December 1, 2025 | predecessor1 = Richard Morrissette | successor1 = TBD | birth_name = Forrest Welch Bennett | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|8|13}} | birth_place = Bartlesville, Oklahoma, U.S. | party = Democratic | education = University of Oklahoma (BA, MPA) }}
'''Forrest Welch Bennett''' (born August 13, 1989) is an American politician and trade unionist who has served as president of the Oklahoma AFL-CIO since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 92nd district from 2016 to 2025.
== Early life == Bennett was born on August 13, 1989, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Kevin and Cindy Bennett.<ref name="examiner">{{cite web|url=https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/news/local-news/bartlesville-man-runs-legislature-okc|title=Bartlesville man runs for legislature in OKC|publisher=Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise|date=2016-01-24|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> He graduated from Bartlesville High School in 2008 and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma (OU).<ref name="examiner" /> While at OU, Bennett was involved with student government, including the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature,<ref name="ouoil">{{cite web|url=https://ouoil.weebly.com/|title=THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA INTERCOLLEGIATE LEGISLATURE DELEGATION|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> and ran for student body president in 2011.<ref name="oudaily">{{cite web|url=http://www.oudaily.com/news/uosa-candidates-forrest-and-katherine-discuss-goals/article_878310e5-2435-579d-9a1a-8608bd3d8071.html|title=UOSA candidates Forrest and Katherine discuss goals|date=2011-03-07|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> He graduated from OU with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2012 and a Master of Public Administration in 2016.<ref name="heritage">{{cite web|url=https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/news/20161227/bennett-to-take-bartlesville-heritage-to-capitol|title=Bennett to take Bartlesville heritage to Capitol|date=2016-12-27|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> Following graduation, Bennett worked for a political consulting firm<ref name="examiner" /> and the public education advocacy group Stand For Children.<ref name="examiner" /><ref name="reddirt">{{cite web|url=https://www.reddirtreport.com/red-dirt-politics/bennett%E2%80%99s-past-connection-controversial-common-core-group-draws-questions|title=Bennett's past connection to controversial Common Core group draws questions|date=2015-06-03|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
== Political career == In 2016, Bennett was one of three Democratic candidates who filed in Oklahoma House District 92 to replace Richard Morrissette, who could not run for re-election due to term limits.<ref name="arrest">{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/5506360/two-oklahoma-house-candidates-have-arrest-records|title=Two Oklahoma House candidates have arrest records|date=2016-06-27|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> During the campaign, Bennett made headlines for having his vehicle stolen while campaigning.<ref name="stolen">{{cite web|url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/candidate-for-oklahoma-house-representative-has-car-stolen-while-campaigning|title=Candidate for Oklahoma house representative has car stolen while campaigning|date=2016-05-02|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> After securing his party's nomination, Bennett defeated Republican challenger Joe Griffin to win his seat.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/oklahoma-state-house-district-92|title=Oklahoma 92nd District State House Results Forrest Bennett Wins|date=2017-08-01|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
Bennett ran unopposed for re-election in 2018.<ref name="tulsa">{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oklahoma/articles/2018-04-13/governors-race-tops-oklahoma-candidate-filings|title=Governor's Race Tops Oklahoma Candidate Filings|date=2018-04-13|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> He was elected president of the Oklahoma AFL-CIO on November 7, 2025, and announced he would resign his legislative seat effective December 1.<ref name="resign">{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Murray |title=Democratic Oklahoma lawmaker says he'll resign to lead labor organization |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/11/09/rep-forrest-bennett-says-hell-resign-from-oklahoma-legislature/87176783007/ |access-date=November 9, 2025 |work=The Oklahoman |date=November 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Emma |title=Oklahoma City lawmaker plans to resign to lead labor group |url=https://www.kosu.org/politics/2025-11-11/oklahoma-city-lawmaker-plans-to-resign-to-lead-labor-group |access-date=November 11, 2025 |work=KOSU |agency=Oklahoma Voice |date=November 11, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Bennett has two brothers, of which he is the middle child.<ref name="examiner" /> Bennett is married to Oklahoma City Public Schools board member Meg McElhaney.<ref name="board">{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/5647834/oklahoma-city-school-board-appoints-newest-member|title=Oklahoma City School Board appoints newest member|date=2019-11-22|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
== Election results == {{Election box begin no change | title=2016 Oklahoma House District 92 Primary Election June 28, 2016}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = '''Forrest Bennett''' |votes = 395 |percentage = 54.33 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Jess Eddy |votes = 240 |percentage = 33.01 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Wilfredo Santos Rivera |votes = 92 |percentage = 12.65 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title=2016 Oklahoma House District 92 General Election November 8, 2016}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = '''Forrest Bennett''' |votes = 3,263 |percentage = 60.54 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Joe Griffin |votes = 2,127 |percentage = 39.46 }} {{Election box end}}
'''Forrest Bennett ran unopposed for re-election in 2018'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Forrest Bennett |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Forrest_Bennett |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
'''Forrest Bennett ran unopposed for re-election in 2020'''<ref name=":0" />
'''Forrest Bennett ran unopposed for re-election in 2022'''<ref name=":0" />
'''Forrest Bennett ran unopposed for re-election in 2024'''<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Forrest}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature Category:People from Bartlesville, Oklahoma Category:Trade unionists from Oklahoma Category:University of Oklahoma alumni Category:21st-century American trade unionists Category:AFL-CIO people
{{Oklahoma-politician-stub}}