Mayor David Holt
Mayor David Holt is a 1997 graduate of Putnam City North. He is a lifetime student of Putnam City Schools–beginning with kindergarten in 1984–and previously attended Hefner Junior High and Wiley Post Elementary. He is also the son of a Putnam City Schools teacher; his father Stroud Holt taught English for three decades at Putnam City and Putnam City North.
Upon graduating as a National Merit Scholar from Putnam City North, Holt attended The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he obtained a B.A. in Political Science. He interned for several Oklahoma Congressmen while in college and then took his first full-time position in the Office of the Speaker of the House in 2001. He then spent two years in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2004.
Holt returned to Oklahoma City in 2004 and ultimately became chief of staff to Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who is also a Putnam City Schools graduate, son of a Putnam City Schools teacher, and a member of the Putnam City Wall of Fame. Holt served at City Hall from 2006 to 2010 and also received his J.D. during this time from Oklahoma City University School of Law.
In 2010, Holt was elected to the Oklahoma Senate, representing a Senate district that covered much of the Putnam City School District. While in the Senate, he rose to the Majority Whip position and authored over 70 pieces of legislation that became law.
In 2018, after two terms in the Senate, Holt was elected the 38th Mayor of Oklahoma City with 78 percent of the vote. In 2022, he was re-elected with the second-most votes in OKC mayoral history. A member of the Osage Nation, Holt was the first Native American to be elected Mayor of Oklahoma City.
Holt’s achievements as Mayor include:
The development, passage and implementation of MAPS 4, a $1.1 billion investment in the city’s quality of life;
Securing the NBA’s Thunder in OKC through at least 2053 thanks to the development and passage of a $1 billion new arena, set to open in 2028;
Securing two sports and seven events from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics;
The development and passage of a $2.7 billion investment in OKC’s core infrastructure; and
Presiding over an unprecedented period of economic stability, city investment and elevated international profile for OKC, fueled by an inclusive approach that has made Oklahoma City a unique model of effectiveness and unity.
In 2025, Holt became the 83rd President of the United States Conference of Mayors, the official national organization speaking for 1,400 American mayors. In 2023, Holt was named by TIME as one of its “100 Next” most influential people in the world.
Holt is the author of the 2012 book “Big League City: Oklahoma City’s Rise to the NBA.” He also co-authored a book on Oklahoma City’s Fred Jones family with fellow Putnam City Wall of inductee Dr. Bob Blackburn.
In 2023, Holt became the Dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he still currently serves.
Mayor David Holt is married to Rachel Canuso Holt, the President & CEO of the United Way of Central Oklahoma. Together they have two children, George and Margaret.