Have you ever wanted something as badly as Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters wanted to be Donald Trump’s education secretary? Sadly, Walters’ dream of moving from making videos from the front seat of his Camry to tweeting in the back of a limo with the president-elect won’t come to be. Trump chose Linda McMahon, the former CEO of the WWE wrestling company and, unlike Walters, a name Trump actually knew.
The question now becomes, What’s next for Walters? Many have speculated a gubernatorial run in two years. If that’s true, expect to see him start to go harder after the potential challengers, which could be Attorney General Gentner Drummond and State Auditor Cindy Byrd. These are also two state officials who have shown a willingness to try and hold Walters in check.
In the meantime, Walters demands that all Oklahoma public school students pray for him during this difficult time.
This article appears in New Year’s Eve Guide.