Monroe Nichols facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monroe Nichols
Nichols in 2016
41st Mayor of Tulsa
Incumbent
Assumed office December 2, 2024
Preceded by	G. T. Bynum
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 72nd district
In office November 17, 2016 – November 20, 2024
Preceded by	Seneca Scott
Succeeded by	Michelle McCane
Personal details
Born	Monroe Nichols IV (1983-09-24) September 24, 1983 (age 41) Waco, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	1
Education	University of Tulsa (BA) University of Oklahoma (MPA)
College football career
University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
Position	Wide receiver (2002-2005)
Class	2005
Major	Political science
Career history
High school	Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School

Monroe Nichols IV was born on September 24, 1983. He is an American politician. Since 2024, he has been the Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before that, he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He represented the 72nd district from 2016 to 2024.

Nichols was born in Waco, Texas. He played high school and college football for Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School and the University of Tulsa. After college, he worked for Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor. In 2008, he ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives but did not win. However, in 2016, he won the election for the 72nd district. He was the first African American to represent that district. He won re-election in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

In 2024, Nichols was elected Mayor of Tulsa. He is the first African American to hold this position. He started his term on December 2, 2024.

About Monroe Nichols' Early Life

Monroe Nichols IV was born on September 24, 1983, in Waco, Texas. His parents are Ramona Curtis and Monroe Nichols III. His father and uncle were both police officers. His mother was a parole officer. His grandfather was a pastor and a veteran of the United States Air Force.

High School and College Football

Nichols graduated from Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School in Waco, Texas. There, he played quarterback on his high school football team. He then went to the University of Tulsa. In 2002, he joined the football team as a wide receiver. He did not play in the 2002 season. In 2003, he played in six games. He missed the 2004 season because of an injury. In his senior year, 2005, Nichols played in 13 games. He caught 10 passes for 114 yards.

In 2005, Nichols said he wanted to focus on politics instead of playing in the NFL. He hoped to become Governor of Texas one day. He earned a degree in political science and economics.

Early Career in Tulsa

In 2006, after graduating, Nichols was hired by Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor. He worked on a program to prevent gang activity. He also managed Taylor's campaign for the 2013 Tulsa mayoral election.

Nichols also worked in other important roles. He was chief of staff for Gerry Clancy, a former OU-Tulsa president. He worked for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. He also helped businesses grow at the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, he helped start a non-profit group called ImpactTulsa. From 2014 to 2016, he served on the Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education. Nichols also worked for StriveTogether, another non-profit.

Monroe Nichols in the Oklahoma House of Representatives

First Campaign in 2008

Nichols first ran for the 72nd district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2008. He was working in Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor's office at the time. The person holding the seat, Darrell Gilbert, could not run again. Nichols received 9% of the votes. Seneca Scott and Christie Breedlove moved on to a second round of voting.

Winning the Election in 2016

In 2016, Nichols was one of many people running for office who had ties to education. No other major party candidates ran in district 72. Nichols challenged the Republican candidate, Whitney Cole. The Election Board removed Cole from the ballot. This meant the Democratic primary election would decide who won the seat.

Maria Barnes, a former Tulsa city councilor, and Nichols were the only two candidates. The Tulsa World newspaper supported Nichols. They called him a voice "for the future." Kathy Taylor also supported him. Nichols won the primary election by a small number of votes. On November 17, 2016, Monroe Nichols became the first African American to represent Oklahoma House District 72.

His Time in Office

On May 1, 2017, Nichols helped host the first Hispanic Cultural Day at the state Capitol.

In 2018, A.C. Forst ran against Nichols in the Democratic primary. Forst said he was more moderate than Nichols. The Tulsa World and the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce supported Nichols. Nichols won the primary and did not have an opponent in the general election.

In January 2020, Nichols was one of over 200 people who asked Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum not to bring a TV show called Live PD to Tulsa. Later that month, he and other lawmakers criticized Governor Kevin Stitt. They were concerned about Stitt appointing people to the University of Oklahoma board who lived outside the state. In June, Nichols asked for a state-level group to investigate police shootings. He also wanted a database to track police officers who resigned during investigations.

In 2020, Maria Barnes ran against Nichols again in the Democratic primary. The Tulsa World supported Nichols once more. Nichols defeated Barnes with 69% of the votes. A Republican candidate had been removed from the ballot. So, Nichols was re-elected without a general election.

During the 2020 election, Nichols also worked as an advisor for the Michael Bloomberg presidential campaign in Oklahoma. He also supported Greg Robinson in the 2020 Tulsa mayoral election.

In May 2021, Nichols left the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. He did this to protest Governor Kevin Stitt signing a bill called HB 1775. Nichols said the bill was "a direct shot in the face" to those working for recognition and reconciliation.

Nichols considered running for Governor of Oklahoma in 2022. However, he decided not to after Connie Johnson and Joy Hofmeister announced their campaigns. Nichols was re-elected to his House seat without opposition in 2022. During his time in the 59th Oklahoma Legislature, Nichols wrote a successful bill. This bill allowed police officers to give warnings to people with outstanding warrants. Before, officers had to arrest them.

Monroe Nichols as Mayor of Tulsa

The 2024 Election

On July 13, 2023, Nichols announced he would not run for re-election in the House. Instead, he would run for Mayor of Tulsa in the 2024 Tulsa mayoral election. He ran against Casey Bradford, Kaleb Hoosier, John Jolley, Karen Keith, Paul Tay, and Brent VanNorman. The Tulsa World and The Black Wall Street Times supported him. Former Governors of Oklahoma Brad Henry and David Walters also endorsed him. Former mayor Kathy Taylor supported him too.

Nichols and Keith moved on to a runoff election. This meant the mayor's office would change from Republican to Democrat. Nichols won the runoff with over 55% of the votes. He became the first Black mayor of Tulsa.

His Time as Mayor

Nichols took office on December 2, 2024. In November, he announced his new team. Tulsa Police Department Major Laurel Roberts became Tulsa's first public safety commissioner. Emily Hall became a senior adviser for homelessness. Gene Bulmash became a senior adviser for housing. Shane Stone became director of government affairs. His campaign manager, Dana Walton, became his deputy chief of staff.

In June 2025, Nichols signed an agreement with Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill. This agreement settled a lawsuit filed by the Muscogee Nation. The lawsuit was about the city's legal actions against tribal citizens. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Representative Scott Fetgatter praised the agreement. Governor Kevin Stitt and Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler criticized it.

Election Results

Nichols was re-elected without opposition in 2022.