David Holt (politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Holt
38th Mayor of Oklahoma City
Incumbent
Assumed office April 10, 2018
Preceded by	Mick Cornett
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 30th district
In office November 16, 2010 – April 10, 2018
Preceded by	Glenn Coffee
Succeeded by	Julia Kirt
Personal details
Born	(1979-03-10) March 10, 1979 (age 46) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Nationality	American Osage Nation
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Rachel Canuso
Children	2
Education	George Washington University (BA) Oklahoma City University (JD)

David Holt, born on March 10, 1979, is an American lawyer and politician. He is the 38th Mayor of Oklahoma City and also works as a dean at the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is a member of the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe.

Before becoming mayor, Holt served in the Oklahoma Senate from 2010 to 2018. He was elected mayor on February 13, 2018, and started his term on April 10. He was reelected on February 8, 2022. He is the youngest mayor of Oklahoma City since 1923. He is also Oklahoma City's first Native American mayor.

As mayor, Holt has led important city projects. One big project was MAPS 4 in 2019. This plan invested $1.1 billion into 16 different city improvements. In 2023, he helped get approval for a new $900 million arena. This arena will be the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team for 25 years.

David Holt's Early Life and Education

David Holt grew up in northwest Oklahoma City. His family has deep roots in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. He is part of the Osage Nation through his mother, Mary Ann Fuller Holt. She encouraged him to get involved in public service. His grandfather, Leonard Fuller, also inspired him. Leonard was a World War II veteran. He directed the Model Cities Program in McAlester, Oklahoma, after leaving the military.

After finishing high school at Putnam City North High School, Holt went to George Washington University. He earned a bachelor's degree there. He also worked as a sports editor for the university's newspaper, The GW Hatchet.

Holt later returned to Oklahoma. He earned a law degree (Juris Doctor) from Oklahoma City University. He then started his own law practice. In 2014, he became the director of investor relations for Hall Capital. He has also taught as a professor at Oklahoma City University.

David Holt's First Steps in Politics

Holt became active in the Republican Party. He worked as an aide for Dennis Hastert. Hastert was the Speaker of the House at the time. Holt was working there during the 9/11 attacks. He also worked in the White House for President George W. Bush.

In 2004, Holt moved back to Oklahoma full-time. He helped President Bush's reelection campaign in the state. He also worked for U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and Lt. Governor Mary Fallin. In 2006, he became the chief of staff for Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. He held this job until he was elected to the State Senate. Holt was Cornett's chief of staff when Oklahoma City worked to get a major league basketball team. This team is now known as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Serving in the Oklahoma State Senate

Holt at the Bethany, Oklahoma Independence Day Parade on July 4, 2011

Holt was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate on July 27, 2010. He won with 64% of the votes in the Republican primary. He had no opponents in the general election. He officially started his term on November 16, 2010. He took over from Glenn Coffee.

In the State Senate, Holt focused on tax issues. He aimed to lower or remove income tax. He was also a member of the Electoral College in 2012. In his first term, he was chosen as the Vice Chair of the Majority Caucus. For the 2013-14 sessions, Holt was elected as the majority whip. This role helps guide party members on votes. He also became vice chair of a new committee for state spending.

For the 2015 and 2016 sessions, Holt chaired the spending committee for state agencies. He led Marco Rubio's presidential campaign in Oklahoma in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Holt helped create a law for online voter registration. In 2016, he wrote a law to create a "revenue stabilization fund." This fund helps the state during times of low income.

In 2017 and 2018, Holt worked on increasing teacher pay. He also chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee for Public Safety and Judiciary.

Mayor of Oklahoma City

First Term as Mayor

In 2017, David Holt announced he would run for mayor of Oklahoma City.

He won the mayoral election on February 13, 2018. He defeated Taylor Neighbors and Randall Smith. Holt was sworn in as mayor on April 10. He resigned from the state senate before starting his new role. When he became mayor, Holt was 39 years old. This made him the youngest mayor of Oklahoma City since 1923. He was also the youngest mayor of a large U.S. city (over 500,000 people). He is Oklahoma City's first Native American mayor.

In 2019, Holt and city leaders opened the city's new streetcar system. This project was paid for by an earlier city improvement plan called MAPS 3.

Holt's second year as mayor brought the creation and approval of MAPS 4. This was a huge $1.1 billion plan for 16 city projects. The Oklahoman newspaper called Holt "the architect" of this "most ambitious MAPS ever." The plan was approved by 71.7% of voters on December 10, 2019. This was a record for a sales tax vote in Oklahoma City. MAPS 4 includes money for many city needs.

In 2019, Holt was chosen for a leadership role in the United States Conference of Mayors. He also became vice-chair of their International Affairs Committee. In 2020, he was elected a trustee of the United States Conference of Mayors. He also joined the board of the National League of Cities. As mayor, Holt has focused on making the community diverse and welcoming. In 2019, he signed an agreement with other city leaders. This agreement created Oklahoma's first Regional Transit Authority (RTA). The RTA plans to build a city-wide rail system.

Holt declared "Indigenous Peoples' Day" for the first time in the city's history. He also proclaimed "Pride" for the first time to honor the LGBTQ community. He publicly stated that immigrants are welcome in Oklahoma City. Holt has joined celebrations for the city's civil rights movement. He included $26 million for a civil rights center in the MAPS 4 plan. The city also hired a diversity and inclusion officer.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Holt declared a state of emergency in March 2020. He put Oklahoma City into a "shelter in place" order. He worked hard to address the pandemic. When cases rose in summer 2020, Holt supported a mask rule. After eleven months, Oklahoma City had a lower death rate than most other large cities.

During the 2020 protests after the murder of George Floyd, Holt attended protests. He met with Black Lives Matter leaders. He created a group to review police policies. He also formed a group to bring back the city's Human Rights Commission. On April 19, 2020, the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, Holt spoke at the ceremony. In March 2021, he opened a new $288 million convention center. In May 2021, Holt helped pass a law to remove many city business licenses. In July 2021, he and other city leaders supported expanding Tinker Air Force Base. This base is Oklahoma City's largest employer. In September 2021, Holt and tribal leaders opened the new First Americans Museum. This $175 million museum tells the story of Native Americans. Holt spoke at the opening as the city's first Native American mayor.

In June 2021, a public survey showed Holt was popular with both Republicans and Democrats. The survey found it was "very unusual" for a candidate to have such support from both parties. In April 2022, Holt led a group of 12 mayors to Israel. They met with officials, including the mayors of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Second Term as Mayor

Holt was reelected for his second term on February 8, 2022. He received 59.8% of the votes in a four-way race. This election had the most voters for an Oklahoma City mayoral election since 1959. Holt received more votes than any mayoral candidate since 1959.

Holt with U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh in Oklahoma City, May 2022

Holt's second term began in May 2022. The next month, he started work on the city's first Bus Rapid Transit line. This is a 9.5-mile, $28.9 million public transport project. In July 2022, the Oklahoma City Council brought back a Human Rights Commission. The city had not had one since 1996. This was a result of a group Holt created in 2020. The new commission was approved by a 5–4 vote, with Holt voting yes.

In November 2022, Holt supported a bond issue for public education. This was a nearly $1 billion plan for school buildings and improvements. Voters approved both parts of the plan with over 60% of the votes. In May 2023, it was announced that Holt would become dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He started this role on July 1, 2023, while also remaining mayor. In June 2023, Holt was elected president of the United States Conference of Mayors for 2025–2026. In August 2023, Holt spoke at the Lincoln Memorial. This was for the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.

In September 2023, Holt proposed a plan to use public money for a new arena. This would keep the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team in Oklahoma City until after 2050. Holt said the team might leave without a new arena. Under the plan, taxpayers would pay at least $850 million for the arena. The team, which is worth $3 billion, would pay $50 million. This proposal led to much public discussion. Holt and others said the team brings $580 million each year to Oklahoma City's economy. Some experts who study public funding for stadiums were critical of the deal. In December 2023, 71% of Oklahoma City voters approved a sales tax to fund the arena.

Personal Life

David Holt is married to Rachel Canuso. They have two children. They are members of the Episcopal Church.

Holt wrote a book called Big League City: Oklahoma City's Rise to the NBA (2012). It is a non-fiction book about politics and sports. It tells the story of how major league sports came to Oklahoma City. This includes the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team moving there in 2008. The team was renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder. Holt was chief of staff to Mayor Mick Cornett at that time.

Electoral History

In 2014, Holt was reelected to the Oklahoma Senate. He had no opponents, so no election was held.

Images for kids

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  Mayor Holt at the 2019 OKC Dodgers Season Opener

See also

• List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States