David Holt for Oklahoma State Senate

Thank You

Celebrating with Senator Glenn Coffee and his wife Lisa on election night.

On Tuesday, after 18 months of campaigning, I was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate, representing the 30^th District that I have called home my entire life.  We received over 5,000 votes and over 63 percent.  This expression of support from our neighbors was a humbling experience.

I will be sworn-in this November, and it will be the honor of a lifetime to represent my community at the State Capitol.

I want to thank every single voter for their participation in this remarkable American experiment.  I promise you that I will bring the same work ethic and passion that you saw on the campaign trail to this important public service.

I especially want to thank all of our supporters – our 500 donors, our hundreds of volunteers, the 100 members of our “One of Us” team, the hundreds of voters who displayed yard signs, and our thousands of Facebook friends and Twitter followers.   Your support made this possible, and it encouraged us to keep pushing hard until the very end.

On behalf of Rachel and George, thank you again.   I will not let you down.    After I am settled at the Capitol, I hope you will stay in touch and come visit.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

With deepest gratitude,

David Holt

Oklahoma State Senator-Elect, District 30

It Rained On Our Parade

George before the deluge

This morning we marched in the Bethany Independence Day Parade.  Rachel, George and I were joined by about 30 family and friends, plus three dogs.  

It started pouring rain just as we started, but the day ended up being one of the highlights of the whole campaign. 

Even as others dropped out, we marched the complete parade route right through the rain.   I ran back and forth, shaking hands with every single person still lining the route (and there were quite a few), while Rachel delivered Twizzlers and our marchers waved flags and spread goodwill.  We were soaked to the bone, but we had a blast.  

Thank you to everyone!

It’s Official

George and me entering American democracy

After 17 months of campaigning and seven months of knocking on doors, this morning I officially filed with the Oklahoma State Election Board to be a candidate for the State Senate.

There were hundreds of candidates at the State Capitol, filing for offices around the state.

I was honored to be joined by George, Rachel, and my mother-in-law, Kasey.

Now, the seven-week sprint to the finish!  I promise, we will work harder than any candidate until the last vote is cast on July 27th.

Rachel’s Birthday

Rachel turns 31 today!  

Thank you, honey, for being the love of my life, the mother of our son, and such a wonderful partner on this journey!

Knocking doors with Rachel and George

Our family

Just finished with three straight days of wall-to-wall door knocking.  

Rachel and George were with me for most of it, which is always a great treat!

I continue to get a very favorable response.  I can tell that our friends and neighbors appreciate that we’re taking the time to personally visit their home.  I think they know that the work ethic you exhibit on the campaign trail is an indicator of how hard you will work on their behalf.

Our Seventh Anniversary

Rachel and I on our wedding day

Today, May 10, is Rachel and I’s seventh wedding anniversary.   We were married in 2003 in Philadelphia, PA, Rachel’s hometown.

In honor of that occasion, here is the homily that our great friend the Reverend Sean Mullen delivered at our wedding mass at St. Mark’s Church:

When the musical, Oklahoma! opened in 1943 it did not look very promising.  Not only was the country at war, the show was a departure from the formula for success on Broadway.  It was, as an article about the show put it, “a musical without stars, without gags and humor, without the sex appeal of chorus girls in flimsy attire.”

People in the industry predicted it would flop.  When scouts brought back word from the out-of-town preview productions they summed up their assessment of the likelihood of success succinctly: “No girls, no gags, no chance.”  So it was a surprise when on opening night the audience rose to its feet for a standing ovation and the production continued to run for five years and nine months.

Oklahoma has been on my mind as Rachel and David’s wedding has approached, because we know that they are Oklahoma-bound.  But the musical Oklahoma! has been on my mind as the wedding has approached because when we plan a wedding it is as close as many of us will ever get to staging a musical.  And while we might leave out the gags and the humor, every wedding has its stars and there is usually a good compliment of chorus girls - though not in such flimsy attire!  And this wedding, perhaps as a homage to Oklahoma!, even has a surrey, but I’m not sure that there is a fringe on top.

One of the best-loved songs from Oklahoma! is a duet sung between the two principle characters: Curly and Laurey, who are still in the early stages of romance and don’t want to admit their mutual attraction.  Curly sings to Laurey:

“Don’t take my arm too much,                                                    

don’t keep your hand in mine;                                                     

your hand feels grand in mine;                                                    

people will say we’re in love.                                                      

Don’t dance all night with me

till stars fade from above;

they’ll see it’s alright with me;

people will say we’re in love.”

In just a few moments I am going to ask David and Rachel to take one another by the hand in a very deliberate way - holding each other, right hand in right hand, as they pledge their love and their loyalty to one another.

In a wedding we make this fuss over hand-holding precisely because we want people to say they’re in love.  And we need these outward and visible signs of the deeply invisible truth that something is going on here - that God is at work weaving David’s and Rachel’s lives together in a most wonderful way.

Remember those wonderful words we just heard from St. Matthew’s Gospel:

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you…?”

These words remind us of the secret work God does in our lives, if we trust him.  They remind us that God does not need stars or gags or chorus girls to work with to make something beautiful.  They remind us that every detail of this wedding could fall to pieces but the beauty of God’s love would still carry the day in its invisible way.

I suppose that we could think of Rachel and David’s time together in Washington as the out-of-town preview that all musicals go through: a time to work things out, figure out how to sing and dance and live together, a time to make adjustments, re-write songs, learn new choreography.  And if Washington has been the previews, then Oklahoma may be where Rachel and David are going to have a long run in the near future.

But in any case, this is opening night, when we give them a great standing ovation.  This is the time to dance all night till the stars fade from above.  For we see that it’s alright with you, and people will say you’re in love.

May God bless you richly as he joins you together, Rachel and David, and may we always say you’re in love.  Amen.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Rachel and George

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone, but especially my Rachel.   This is our first Mother’s Day since George’s arrival. Rachel is such an amazing mother - loving, thoughtful and patient.   George is so fortunate, and so am I.

My thoughts also turn to my mother, who passed away 17 years ago.  I’ve been without her longer than I was with her, but she will always be an influence on my life.   Here’s a little bit about her.

Putnam City Schools Foundation

Rachel and I with James

I’m proud to be a board member of the Putnam City Schools Foundation, and give back to our community.  

Last week, we added PCN ‘91 grad James Marsden to the PC Schools Wall of Fame.  The event raised a lot of money for the Foundation, and James was very gracious, generous and humble. 

It was great week for our school district, as two Panthers were drafted by the NFL, and James came home to accept this honor.

Wearing Out the Shoe Leather

Me and mom

Had a full day of knocking today.   I believe set a new personal best!  And Rachel and George joined me for part of it. 

Also, it was particularly special when someone pulled their car over to tell me they knew my mom and thought the world of her.   As I’ve knocked doors, I’ve had quite a few people take the time to tell me that, and I can’t tell you what that means to me.

Oklahoma County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

Rachel and I spent the evening at the annual Oklahoma County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner, which was held at the Quail Creek Country Club in the 30th District. 

Rachel volunteered at the registration table.   We had a great time visiting with many friends!

George enters politics

Just finished another full day of knocking on doors.  

This one was special because Rachel and George joined me for the first time since little George was born.

Merry Christmas from the Holt Family

George's First Christmas

Rachel, George and I wish you a Merry Christmas!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”   - Isaiah 9:6

George Comes Home

George in his "coming home" outfit

George and Family returned home Sunday.   Rachel and George are doing great.  

Thank you again to everyone for your kind thoughts.

Welcome to the World, George Holt

Me and George

George

More George

This morning at approximately 7 a.m., George Rocco Holt entered the world at 7 pounds, 11 ounces and 20.5 inches.

Mother and son are doing great.

George’s first name comes from Rachel’s maternal grandfather and uncle, and my maternal great-grandfather.  It means “farmer,” a nod to the Holt family’s agrarian past and and present.  It is also an acknowledgement that Rachel and I met at George Washington University.   It’s a great American name that three Presidents have shared.    In addition to all that, we like that it’s a well-known name, but not a common name.   It harkens back to a different time.

Rocco is a nod to Rachel’s Italian heritage.   Her maiden name is Canuso, and over a century ago, Rachel’s ancestor Vito Rocco Canuso brought the Canuso name to America for the first time.

Obviously, we’re on cloud nine, and appreciate all the well wishes.

Countdown to Baby Holt

Rachel’s due date of December 16th is fast approaching.  The countdown is on…

Oklahoma Republican Party’s Bedlam Bash

Rachel and I concluded a day of knocking doors with the Oklahoma Republican Party’s Bedlam Bash.     Enjoyed seeing everyone there, and the great remarks from Cong. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Mary Fallin and Tom Cole.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rachel and I are thankful today for our bun in the oven.   We’re thankful for our family and friends.   We’re thankful for the sacrifices others have made for us.  We’re thankful for our health and our good fortune.  We’re thankful for our freedom, and we’re thankful to live in the greatest country the world has ever known.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Oklahoma City Republican Women’s Club

I really enjoyed speaking to the Oklahoma City Republican Women’s Club Friday.  It was a great lunch, and Rachel and I had a lot of fun visiting with friends.   Thanks to Sylvia Morales, President of the Club, and to all of her members for all they do to elect Republicans in Oklahoma!

For more information on the Club, visit their web site here.

Kickoff Event

The kickoff event was a huge success, by every measure.  So wonderful to be with so many great friends, from all chapters of my life.  Old Putnam City teachers, old classmates, current colleagues and friends of all kinds.  Rachel and I were overwhelmed by all the love and support.  Thank you so much to the Ryans for hosting, the co-hosts (especially Mayor Cornett, Mayor Bryan Taylor, and Commissioners Vaughn and Maughan, who were able to join us), the sponsors, and everyone who came out. 

Rachel and I with our hosts Grace and Councilman Pat Ryan

“Taste of Northwest”

Me and Thomas McEvoy

Holt for Senate Ad in the OFRW State Convention Program

Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women State Convention

As I’ve said before, Republican women are the lifeblood of the Oklahoma GOP.  That’s why Rachel and I were honored to join the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women for lunch today at their State Convention.

Lots of great Republican Women were there, like Jeannine Long, who I was happy to assist this past year as she secured the 2010 NFRW national board meeting in Oklahoma City.  Jeannine sits on that national board.  Also there today was State President Sara Jo Odom, Pam Pollard, Angie LaPlante, Phyllis Gorman, Dixie Galloway, Mary Jane Calvey, Debbie House, and many more.  I’m proud to be a donor and supporter of the OFRW. 

You can find out more about the OFRW here.

The Children’s Center

Me at the Children's Center. You can see the new tornado safe room under construction in the background.

The Children’s Center in Bethany is an incredible facility, and one of the premiere rehabilitative children’s hospitals in the country.  And no one walks through those doors without falling in love with the kids they take care of.

Rachel and I spent Saturday morning volunteering at their “Spin Your Wheels” bicycling event, which was a fundraiser benefiting the Center.  We worked the merchandise booth.

Albert Gray and his staff do an incredible job, they’re all fun people to be around, and they clearly have passion for their work.  If you’re ever looking for a good cause, I encourage you to get involved.  The Children’s Center web site can be found here.

Expecting Baby Holt

I am proud to tell you that Rachel and I are expecting a son on December 16th!

July 4th at Quail Creek and Bethany

Rachel and I started the day at the annual Quail Creek parade.  We enjoyed visiting with our friends and neighbors, and eating some great watermelon.  And, Rachel debuted the campaign t-shirt.

Rachel, myself and Caroline Gist at the Northwest Chamber booth

Then it was on to Bethany for the annual Freedom Festival, which has long been the preeminent July 4th celebration, probably in the whole state.

Rachel and I spent some time handing out free fans at the Northwest Chamber booth with NW Chamber CEO Jill McCartney, Putnam City Schools Foundation Executive Director Caroline Gist, and longtime Bethany Farmers Insurance agent Kevin Davis.  Then we checked out the rest of the festival and car show. 

Thank you to Bethany Mayor Bryan Taylor for his hospitality, and a job well done to him, City Manager John Shugart, Police Chief Phil Cole, and all the staff and volunteers that make the Bethany Freedom Festival such a special event in our community.

Me and Bethany Mayor Bryan Taylor