New Senate District 32 senator sworn into office

Southwest Oklahoma has a new state senator.

Elgin pastor and businessman Dusty Deevers was sworn into office Wednesday as the new Senate District 32 senator, in a ceremony held in the Senate Chambers of the Oklahoma Capitol. Deevers, a Republican, was the winner of the Dec. 12 election that pitted him against Lawton Democrat Larry Bush, a spot Deevers won after coming out the winner in a four-way Republican primary election.

“I want to sincerely thank the citizens of District 32 for giving me the opportunity to represent them and be their voice at our state Capitol,” Deevers said in a statement. “I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work to ensure a brighter future for this great state.”

Deevers is the CEO of Deevers Properties and has been pastor at Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Elgin since 2016. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology from Oklahoma City University, where he also played baseball on a scholarship, and graduated with a masters of divinity degree with languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008.

Deevers is filling the seat of former Sen. John Michael Montgomery, who resigned Aug. 1 to become president/CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce. Montgomery was less than a year into his new four-year term when he resigned, after winning re-election in November 2022, meaning Deevers will complete that term. The 2024 legislative session will begin Feb. 5.

Senate District 32 includes northern and western Comanche County. In Lawton, the district includes the area north of West Lee Boulevard to Southwest 38th Street, then north of Southwest F Avenue to Southwest 3rd Street.