{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Neil Hays | image = Neil Hays.jpg | caption = | state_house = Oklahoma | district = 13th | term_start = November 16, 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = Avery Frix | successor = | birth_name = William Neil Hays | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1973}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Andrea |title=After tying in primary, Neil Hayes and Carisa Rogers head to an HD 13 runoff |url=https://nondoc.com/2022/08/20/house-district-13-runoff-neil-hayes-carisa-rogers/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=NonDoc |date=20 August 2022}}</ref> | birth_place = | party = Republican | education = Northeastern Oklahoma State University (MBA) | spouse = | children = }}
'''William Neil Hays''' (born 1973) is an American politician who has served as the Oklahoma House of Representatives member from the 13th district since November 16, 2022.
==Early life and education== Neil Hays was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where his father worked as a high school coach and principal.<ref name="Musk Phoenix- 1" /> He attended college on a basketball scholarship.<ref name="Musk Phoenix- 1" /> He has an MBA from Northeastern Oklahoma State University.<ref name="Nondoc- 1" />
==Career== Before running for office, Hays worked as a high school coach and businessman.<ref name="Musk Phoenix- 1">{{cite news |last1=Hays |first1=Neil |title=Hays declares for State House 13 seat |url=https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/hays-declares-for-state-house-13-seat/article_fa178edc-5cea-5f83-a5e4-8fa9bf0f4f54.html |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Muskogee Phoenix |date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625053801/https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/hays-declares-for-state-house-13-seat/article_fa178edc-5cea-5f83-a5e4-8fa9bf0f4f54.html |archive-date=25 June 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> He taught mathematics and history at Hilldale High School.<ref name="Nondoc- 1" /> He later left teaching to open a Farmers Insurance agency in Okmulgee. His agency was rated in the top five in the state by Farmers Insurance in 2021.<ref name="Nondoc- 1" />
==Oklahoma House of Representatives== Hays launched his campaign for the Oklahoma House of Representatives's 13th district in early April 2022.<ref name="Musk Phoenix- 1" /> He was one of four Republican candidates{{efn|alongside Brian Jackson, Carlisa Rogers and Steve White<ref name="Nondoc- 1" />}} vying to succeed incumbent Avery Frix, who had retired to run for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022. He campaigned on "conservative values" and criticizing Joe Biden's policies. He was endorsed by the State Chamber Political Action Committee.<ref name="Nondoc- 1">{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Andrea |title=Curriculum under scrutiny in House District 13 primary |url=https://nondoc.com/2022/06/23/curriculum-under-scrutiny-in-house-district-13-primary/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=NonDoc |date=23 June 2022}}</ref> He advanced to a runoff with Carlisa Rogers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hays and Rogers are in House District 13 runoff |url=https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/hays-and-rogers-are-in-house-district-13-runoff/article_bac55626-f74f-11ec-a4d4-bb520fa7d703.html |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Muskogee Phoenix |date=28 June 2022}}</ref> During the runoff, Hays expressed willingness to support some school voucher bills.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Roy |title=SCHOOL-CHOICE SUPPORTERS PREVAIL IN RUNOFF |url=https://www.ocpathink.org/post/school-choice-supporters-prevail-in-runoff |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=OCPA |date=24 August 2022}}</ref> He won the Republican primary and faced the Democratic Party's nominee Jimmy Haley in the November election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hays wins House District 13 GOP race |url=https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/hays-wins-house-district-13-gop-race/article_4a41b08a-234f-11ed-a2e9-730db3098698.html |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Muskogee Phoenix |date=23 August 2022}}</ref> He defeated Haley with 63% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hays wins District 13 seat |url=https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/hays-wins-district-13-seat/article_266ab336-5fd7-11ed-aa81-4b397fba4b0f.html |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Muskogee Phoenix |date=8 November 2022}}</ref> During his campaign, about 16% of Hays' donations came from state legislators.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Keaton |title=Oklahoma Lawmakers Use Campaign Reserves to Boost Candidates in Tight Races |url=https://oklahomawatch.org/2022/11/07/oklahoma-lawmakers-use-campaign-reserves-to-boost-candidates-in-tight-races/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Oklahoma Watch |date=7 November 2022}}</ref> He was sworn in November 16, 2022.<ref name="OK Farm Report- 17 Nov 2022">{{cite news |title=House Members Take Oaths of Office |url=https://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/okfr/2022/11/17/house-members-take-oaths-of-office/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Oklahoma Farm Report |date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
He was one of twenty early Oklahoma lawmakers who endorsed Ron DeSantis for the 2024 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ogles |first=Jacob |date=2023-06-07 |title=20 Oklahoma lawmakers endorse Ron DeSantis |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/616988-20-oklahoma-lawmakers-endorse-ron-desantis/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Florida Politics |language=en-US}}</ref>
He voted against the child marriage ban that narrowly passed. https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf/2025-26%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/SB504_VOTES.HTM
==Personal life== Hays is married to his wife Nicole and has six children.<ref>{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYS DISTRICT 13 - REPUBLICAN |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/MEMBERS/District.aspx?District=13 |website=okhouse.gov |publisher=Oklahoma House of Representatives |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102063156/https://www.okhouse.gov/MEMBERS/District.aspx?District=13 |archive-date=2 January 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYS DISTRICT 13 - REPUBLICAN |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/representatives/neil-hays |website=okhouse.gov |publisher=Oklahoma House of Representatives |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312062524/https://www.okhouse.gov/representatives/neil-hays |archive-date=12 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> He is a member of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA).<ref name="Musk Phoenix- 1" />
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Oklahoma House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hays, Neil}} Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature Category:Schoolteachers from Oklahoma Category:Politicians from Muskogee, Oklahoma Category:1973 births