Michael Brooks-Jimenez

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Michael Brooks-Jimenez

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Michael Brooks-Jimenez.jpg

| alt =

| office1 = Minority Caucus Chair of the Oklahoma Senate

| term_start1 = December 11, 2024

| predecessor1 = Kevin Matthews

| office2 = Minority Caucus Vice Chair of the Oklahoma Senate

| term_start2 = 2018

| term_end2 = February 6, 2024

| successor2 = Carri Hicks

| state_senate3 = Oklahoma

| district3 = 44th

| term_start3 = July 11, 2017

| predecessor3 = Ralph Shortey

| birth_name = Michael Andrew Brooks-Jimenez

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| citizenship =

| nationality =

| party = Democratic

| otherparty =

| spouse = Jessica

| children = 2

| residence = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

| education = Oklahoma State University
University of Oklahoma College of Law

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

| religion =

}}

Michael Andrew Brooks-Jimenez is an American lawyer and Democratic member of the Oklahoma Senate. He was elected in a 2017 special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ralph Shortey. He represents the 44th district, which covers parts of southern Oklahoma City.

Personal life

Brooks-Jimenez was born in Oklahoma City to a white father, Bud Brooks, and a Mexican-American mother, Patricia Jimenez Brooks. Both were educators. He graduated from Mount St. Mary High School, and with a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.{{cite web |title=Michael Brooks-Jimenez's Biography |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/152311/michael-brooks-jimenez |accessdate=October 11, 2017 |publisher=Project VoteSmart}} Brooks-Jimenez established a law firm, specializing in immigration law and Criminal Defense.{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Andrew W. |last2=O'Brien |first2=Bill |date=August 27, 2014 |title=ON THE RISE: Dist. 44 candidate Michael Brooks-Jimenez seeks to be strong Dem voice in the Senate |url=http://www.reddirtreport.com/election-central/rise-dist-44-candidate-michael-brooks-jimenez-seeks-be-strong-dem-voice-senate |accessdate=October 11, 2017 |newspaper=Red Dirt Report}}

Brooks-Jimenez and his wife, Jessica Martinez-Brooks, have 2 children; Joaquin and Lucy. He is a Catholic and attends St. James Catholic Church.{{cite web |date=March 21, 2017 |title=Michael Brooks-Jimenez Announces Candidacy for Oklahoma State Senate District 44 |url=http://michaelforoklahoma.com/michael-brooks-jimenez-announces-candidacy-oklahoma-state-senate-district-44/ |accessdate=October 11, 2017 |publisher=Michael for Oklahoma}}

Political career

Brooks-Jimenez ran for the state Senate in 2014, losing to incumbent Republican Ralph Shortey.{{cite web|url=http://kgou.org/post/republican-gains-few-surprises-real-time-recap-oklahomas-midterm-election-results|title=Republican Gains, Few Surprises: A Real-Time Recap Of Oklahoma's Midterm Election Results|author=Hardzinski, Brian|publisher=KGOU|date=November 4, 2014|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.reddirtreport.com/red-dirt-politics/keeping-eye-michael-brooks-jimenez|title=Keeping an eye on Michael Brooks-Jimenez|author=O'Brien, Bill|newspaper=Red Dirt Report|date=December 20, 2015|accessdate=October 11, 2017}} After Shortey resigned in March 2017 after being charged with child prostitution, Brooks-Jimenez declared his candidacy for the open seat.{{cite web|url=http://kfor.com/2017/03/21/oklahoma-attorney-announces-he-is-running-for-ralph-shorteys-state-senate-seat/|title=Two politicians announce plans to run for Ralph Shortey's state Senate seat|author=Franklin, Dallas|publisher=Oklahoma's News 4|date=March 23, 2017|accessdate=October 11, 2017}} He defeated Republican Joe Griffin in the special election, held on July 11, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://freepressokc.com/brooks-jimenez-wins-senate-district-44-race/|title=Brooks-Jimenez wins Senate District 44 Race|author=Dickerson, Brett|newspaper=Oklahoma City Free Press|date=July 11, 2017|accessdate=October 11, 2017}} His victory came as a surprise victory for the Democratic Party.{{Cite news |last=Resnick |first=Gideon |date=2017-07-12 |title=Democratic Candidates Just Pulled Off Surprise Wins In Two Oklahoma Statehouse Races |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/democratic-candidates-just-pulled-off-surprise-wins-in-two-oklahoma-statehouse-races |access-date=2023-04-13}}

Brooks-Jimenez was the first Latino member of the Senate and is one of five in the Legislature.{{cite web|url=http://oklahomawatch.org/2017/07/18/latino-legislators-remain-few-but-represent-range-of-districts/|title=Latino Legislators Remain Few But Represent Range of Districts|author=Brown, Trevor|publisher=Oklahoma Watch|date=July 18, 2017|accessdate=October 11, 2017}} No candidates filed to run against Brooks-Jimenez in 2018 or 2022 primaries or general elections. He currently serves as Minority Caucus Chair. Brooks-Jimenez is also member of The National Association of Latino Elected Officials and the Board of Latino Legislative Leaders and was selected to be part of the New Deal Leaders in 2021. Brooks-Jimenez also founded the Oklahoma Latino Legislative Caucus in 2020.{{cite news |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/photovideo/slideshows/meet-the-already-elected-to-legislature-learn-more-about-record/collection_bf152800-4254-11e8-b781-9b1763f9ba3d.html |title=Meet the 20 already 'elected' to 2019 Legislature, learn more about record-breaking candidate filing in Oklahoma |date=April 17, 2018 |newspaper=Tulsa World |access-date=May 25, 2018 }}[https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Brooks_(Oklahoma) Michael Brooks], Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 24, 2022.

Political positions

Brooks-Jimenez believes illegal immigration is an issue best handled at the federal level, and supports rights of immigrants, both legal and illegal, residing in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://oklahomawatch.org/2016/11/22/michael-brooks-jimenez-in-defense-of-latino-immigrants/|title=Michael Brooks-Jimenez: In Defense of Latino Immigrants|publisher=Oklahoma Watch|date=November 22, 2016|accessdate=October 11, 2017}} He prioritized education, the economy, and infrastructure in his 2014 campaign for the Senate.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/5358423|title=Oklahoma state Senate District 44 race is a study in contrasts|author=Green, Rick|newspaper=The Oklahoman|date=October 20, 2014|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change | title=Oklahoma Senate District 44 election, 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=793799|title=OK State Senate 44 2014|publisher=Our Campaigns|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ralph Shortey

|votes = 5,418

|percentage = 51.69

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael Brooks-Jimenez

|votes = 4,384

|percentage = 41.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Constance Fawcett

|votes = 680

|percentage = 6.49

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 10,482

|percentage = 100.00

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Oklahoma Senate District 44 special election, 2017{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=830242|title=OK State Senate 44 - Special Election 2017|publisher=Our Campaigns|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael Brooks-Jimenez

|votes = 1,975

|percentage = 54.57

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Griffin

|votes = 1,644

|percentage = 45.43

}}