# Neil Hays > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_Hays > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_Hays.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Hays > Source revision: 1354049353 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Avery_Frix) | successor = | birth_name = William Neil Hays | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1973}}{{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}} | birth_place = | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) | education = [Northeastern Oklahoma State University](/source/Northeastern_Oklahoma_State_University) ([MBA](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration)) | spouse = | children = }} '''William Neil Hays''' (born 1973) is an American politician who has served as the [Oklahoma House of Representatives](/source/Oklahoma_House_of_Representatives) member from the 13th district since November 16, 2022. ==Early life and education== Neil Hays was born in [Muskogee, Oklahoma](/source/Muskogee%2C_Oklahoma), where his father worked as a high school coach and principal. He attended college on a [basketball](/source/basketball) scholarship. He has an [MBA](/source/MBA) from [Northeastern Oklahoma State University](/source/Northeastern_Oklahoma_State_University). ==Career== Before running for office, Hays worked as a high school coach and businessman.{{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}} He taught mathematics and history at [Hilldale High School](/source/Hilldale_Public_Schools). He later left teaching to open a [Farmers Insurance](/source/Farmers_Insurance) agency in [Okmulgee](/source/Okmulgee%2C_Oklahoma). His agency was rated in the top five in the state by Farmers Insurance in 2021. ==Oklahoma House of Representatives== Hays launched his campaign for the [Oklahoma House of Representatives](/source/Oklahoma_House_of_Representatives)'s 13th district in early April 2022. He was one of four [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) candidates{{efn|alongside Brian Jackson, Carlisa Rogers and Steve White}} vying to succeed incumbent [Avery Frix](/source/Avery_Frix), who had retired to run for [Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district](/source/Oklahoma's_2nd_congressional_district) in [2022](/source/2022_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Oklahoma). He campaigned on "[conservative](/source/conservative) values" and criticizing [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden)'s policies. He was endorsed by the State Chamber Political Action Committee.{{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}} He advanced to a runoff with Carlisa Rogers.{{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}} During the runoff, Hays expressed willingness to support some [school voucher](/source/school_voucher) bills.{{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}} He won the Republican primary and faced the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))'s nominee Jimmy Haley in the [November election](/source/2022_Oklahoma_House_of_Representatives_election).{{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}} He defeated Haley with 63% of the vote.{{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}} During his campaign, about 16% of Hays' donations came from state legislators.{{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](/source/Oklahoma_Watch) |date=7 November 2022}} He was sworn in November 16, 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}} He was one of twenty early Oklahoma lawmakers who endorsed Ron DeSantis for the 2024 presidential election.{{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](/source/Florida_Politics) |language=en-US}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} He is a member of the [National Rifle Association of America](/source/National_Rifle_Association_of_America) (NRA). ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil Hays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Hays) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Hays?action=history)). 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