OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — The Oklahoma Senate held its swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, swearing in 14 new state senators and setting the stage for the start of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature in February.
It was a jubilant atmosphere on the packed Senate floor. Eleven Republican and three Democratic new elected senators officially pledged their oath to serve the people of Oklahoma in the Senate.
“It is my honor to proudly welcome the newly elected and reelected senators of the Oklahoma State Senate 60th Legislature,” said Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, who presided over the ceremony.
Both newly elected and reelected senators were joined by family and friends. Senate members introduced their special guests, thanking them for their love and support, following the swearing-in ceremony.
Newly elected Senator Nikki Nice, an Oklahoma City Democrat who will serve District 48, said she is humbled and excited to be a member of the Oklahoma Senate.
“I hope to get some great things done for the district as well as for the state of Oklahoma and learn in the process, learn how to create more bridges of ways we can work together in the Senate to make sure we’re establishing a better Oklahoma,” Nice said.
Nice, formerly a member of the Oklahoma City City Council, told Oklahoma Business Voice after the ceremony that she would like to see economic and workforce development initiatives that give individuals opportunities for a better life.
“I definitely want to see more economic development, more workforce development, and see how we can make sure those who have felonies have more and better job opportunities. We want to make sure every Oklahoman has an opportunity to work,” Nice said.
Sen. Adam Pugh, a veteran member of the State Senate, said he looks forward to continuing to unite education with workforce and economic development efforts.
“Education is our way of providing people with the skillsets that they’re going to then use in the workforce or use to serve and bless others,” Pugh said. “And when you build that workforce, you create your own economic development opportunities.”
Pugh first took office in November 2016 and was reelected in 2020. He was reelected once again during the recent general election. He represents the 41st District.
“I’m thankful to my district for sending me back here to do another four years of hard work,” Pugh said.
Pugh had a major legislative win last year, co-authoring House Bill 3278, which was signed into law last May. The bill expands graduation requirements to include career-readiness training. Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, co-authored the bill.
He said he foresees more legislation that taps into education to grow Oklahoma’s future workforce.
“I’m going to continue to meet with teachers and school leaders and parents and families,” Pugh said. “I want us to focus on elevating our academic outcomes and better prepare kids for the future. And I want to let teachers teach and give them the resources to go do that successfully.”
Former Sen. J.J. Dossett attended the swearing-in ceremony, helping his colleagues welcome the new legislators. Being a new legislator is a special feeling, he said.
“You’re leaving the campaigning world and coming into the governing world, so that’s a shock because those are two different worlds,” Dossett said. “But I would say there’s an excitement. When you’re a new legislator you’re excited about accomplishing all kinds of great things. Then you start figuring out, realistically, what is accomplishable with your fellow legislators and the State of Oklahoma.”
The Rev. Dr. Christine Byrd, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, was in attendance with friends and fellow clergy. She said she hopes the new legislators will bring new ideas, bold energy, and bipartisanship to the Senate.
“We hope they will come in with fresh vision and that they’re all willing to work across party lines, because the main concern is the desires of the people, and that Oklahoma can grow and be greater than what it is,” Byrd said. “But it is going to take non-partisanship, it is going to take working across party lines, and it is going to take listening to the will of the people.”
