MEDIA MENTIONS.

State Rep. Monroe Nichols and Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith each received 33% of the vote for Tulsa Mayor, moving on to a runoff election in November.

Brent VanNorman had 32%, only trailing Keith by about 400 votes.

In unofficial results with all precincts reporting, Nichols received 33.1% of the vote, Keith 32.6%.

Grassroots organizers backing Monroe Nichols for mayor announced staggering final outreach numbers ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.

According to lead organizers of Tulsans for Monroe, a group not directly affiliated with Nichols’ campaign, knocked nearly 10,000 doors between Saturday and Monday.

It's been an exciting night. We've got a long way to go but a great night for the campaign and a great night for Tulsa.

The significance of Nichols’ potential victory extends beyond his individual achievements. Tulsa is a city still grappling with the legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a brutal attack that decimated the prosperous Black community of Greenwood. For many, the election of a Black mayor would symbolize a step towards healing and reconciliation, as well as a recognition of the contributions of Black Tulsans to the city’s history and future. Nichols’ election would not erase the past, but it would mark a turning point in Tulsa’s ongoing journey toward racial justice.

Tulsa’s Equality Indicators show we are lagging, so I will support, fund, and expand the Mayor’s Office of Resilience, ensuring initiatives work across all city departments. Tulsa is an international city and no matter where you are from, who you love or what neighborhood you live in, our long-term economic viability depends on addressing unique needs and expanding opportunities for everyone. It’s what being an excellent world-class city is all about.

Of all the candidates seeking to be Tulsa’s next mayor, only one has presented a detailed blueprint of actions on our city’s biggest issues that would be taken if elected.

That’s Monroe Nichols.

The 40-year-old is not the frontrunner but has the clearest vision, leaving constituents with few to no questions about where he stands and what he will do.

His plan — on his campaign website — provides specific goals and steps to address housing, homelessness, student outcomes and co-governing with tribal nations. He’s the lone candidate to include Indigenous relationships in his priorities.

We are endorsing Nichols for his thorough outline, measurable goals, varied experience in public service and forthright communication style.

Despite her prior history with Keith, Taylor echoed national Democratic politics with her endorsement. Taylor said it’s time for the old guard to let the next generation govern.

“Karen and I, Karen’s a bit older than me. We both had our time to serve,” Taylor said. “It’s time, I believe, for the next generation to take leadership.”

It is time for a new generation of leadership to lead our city. We can be thankful for the work of those who have led our community in the past, but the challenges we face now need a new kind of energy – a leader with vision AND a plan.

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And this year, the public has focused on allegations of abuse at Tulsa County’s Family Center for Juvenile Justice. 30 detained youth have filed a lawsuit against county commissioners – including mayoral candidate Karen Keith — and detention staff.

Discussion around the juvenile center prompted a heated debate between Keith and state Rep. Monroe Nichols at the debate Thursday afternoon at Cain’s Ballroom.

Keith and Nichols shared the stage with businessman Brent VanNorman. VanNorman and Keith supported the city’s current approach to traffic enforcement for Native drivers, while Nichols favored dropping the legal battles.

Karen Keith, a Tulsa County Commissioner ....became a named defendant in a federal lawsuit alleging county officials failed to protect youth from sexual and physical abuse by staff at the Juvenile Center. Now, her status as the frontrunner remains unclear.

“Whether somebody had direct authority or not, they were all responsible. And the fact that none of them have expressed any concern for the kids in that facility kills me,” Monroe Nichols told The Black Wall Street Times.

As an outgoing state representative and chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, Nichols has taken a more direct approach at pushing back against divisive rhetoric, creating plans to address education and housing, and expressing outrage at the lack of accountability among county officials overseeing the Juvenile Center.

Nichols highlighted his plan to create a city office of children and families to address youth needs and improve education outcomes.

Nichols also touted his record of publicly opposing Walters.

“When Ryan Walters attacked our school district, I was the only one on the stage who would say anything about it," he said.

"We’ll establish the office of children, youth, and families, and our working relationship with schools and youth-serving organizations to make sure we’re putting kids on the pathway to success in this community."

Nichols, who worked for Mayor Kathy Taylor and higher education before being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives eight years ago, replied that experience is about more than being in one place a long time.
“Experience is about outcomes,” he said.

Tulsa is ready for change, and Monroe Nichols is the leader to drive progress. With two decades of leadership and a solid plan for schools, Nichols stands out for his dedication to youth, families, and community development. Moniz urges residents to vote for Nichols for a vibrant, progressive Tulsa on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Scenes from a meet and greet with Tulsa City Councilor candidates and a forum hosted by the University of Tulsa, the Tulsa World, the Tulsa Press Club and the Tulsa Voter Coalition where five mayoral candidates answered questions at the Lorton Performance Center on the University of Tulsa campus on Thursday, August 1, 2024, in Tulsa, Okla.

Regarding street lighting, Nichols affirmed that he plans to tackle those community concerns as well, tying the need for streetlights to his broader educational and community health initiatives, showcasing a holistic approach to community safety.

“I’m committed to this thing and willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen,” said Nichols.

"What I would leave here with if I was a constituent is being really happy and excited that we have folks who are running for mayor who are committed to that agenda," Rep. Nichols told 2 News. "How we get there we didn't get to talk about a whole lot, but I think the great thing is that there are folks who are committed."

Our history shows that when given a challenge, Tulsa is home to the greatest innovators in the history of this country, and we will prove that again. As Tulsa’s mayor, I have made my commitment to education clear and pledge to future partners that we will do everything it takes to build the most robust workforce in the nation, and Tulsa will be the best place in the world to do business.

The outcome of the election will guide Tulsa’s future for years to come. For many, the state of politics across Oklahoma and the nation makes this election that much more pivotal.

The first questions at Thursday night's Tulsa's Young Professionals mayoral candidates forum dealt with issues of particular interest to young people: diversity, inclusion, and the environment.

Nichols, who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2016, is positioning himself as a candidate with a bold vision for inclusive growth and economic development.

The only person to attend was State Representative and candidate for Tulsa mayor Monroe Nichols.

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The City of Tulsa's mayoral lineup is set after the filing deadline ended on June 12.

Who's running?

We’re going to set off an Office of Children, Youth, and Families,” Nichols said. “I think it’s really important for us as a city to understand, how do we institutionalize our commitment to young people

Our administration will make sure that we not only respect tribal sovereignty, but we will co-govern with tribes from day one.

Asked to name the biggest issues facing Tulsa, Nichols outlined homelessness, education and public safety as the top three concerns he has heard on the campaign trail. He said those three things were underpinned by the question of “how united of a city are we going to be” and how to cooperate with tribal governments.

Seeking to become the next mayor for Tulsa, Oklahoma State Rep. Monroe Nichols received major endorsements from a former Tulsa mayor and two former Oklahoma governors on Tuesday.

Tulsa will elect a new Mayor in 2024 and while not all the candidates have declared one is already picking up some major endorsements.

Former Oklahoma Governors Brad Henry, David Walters, and former Mayor Kathy Taylor put their support behind State Representative Monroe Nichols ahead of next year's election.

Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, is one of the more outspoken members of Oklahoma's Legislature. Now he wants to take his talents to Tulsa's City Hall where he would become Tulsa's first Black mayor.

Nichols is aiming to become one of the youngest mayors in Tulsa history. If elected, he would also be the first Black mayor the city has ever had.

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