Michael Brooks-Jimenez

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.^[1] Brooks-Jimenez established a law firm, specializing in immigration law and Criminal Defense.^[2]

Brooks-Jimenez and his wife, Jessica Martinez-Brooks, have 2 children; Joaquin and Lucy.^[1] He is a Catholic and attends St. James Catholic Church.^[3]

Brooks-Jimenez ran for the state Senate in 2014, losing to incumbent Republican Ralph Shortey.^[4][5] After Shortey resigned in March 2017 after being charged with child prostitution, Brooks-Jimenez declared his candidacy for the open seat.^[6] He defeated Republican Joe Griffin in the special election, held on July 11, 2017.^[7] His victory came as a surprise for the Democratic Party.^[8]

Brooks-Jimenez was the first Latino member of the Senate and is one of five in the Legislature.^[9] 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.^[10][11]

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.^[12] He prioritized education, the economy, and infrastructure in his 2014 campaign for the Senate.^[13]