Ajay Pittman
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 99th district
Assumed office
2019
Preceded byGeorge E. Young[1]
Personal details
Born
Ayshia K. M. Pittman

(1993-09-10) September 10, 1993
NationalityAmerican
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Political partyDemocratic
Parent
EducationOklahoma Policy Institute

Ayshia K. M. Pittman (born September 10, 1993) is an Seminole-American politician who currently serves as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 99th district as a member of the Democratic Party. She is the third Seminole to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature.

Early life

Ayshia K. M. Pittman was born on September 10, 1993, to Anastasia Pittman, who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 99th district and in the Oklahoma Senate.[2][3] Pittman is a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and is the great-great-granddaughter of Abner Burnett, who survived the Tulsa race massacre.[4] Pittman attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated from the Oklahoma Policy Institute.[5]

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Elections

Ajay Pittman's campaign logo

Pittman won the initial Democratic primary in 2018, against Nkem House, Crentha Sequoya Turner, and Steve Davis for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 99th district and defeated House in the runoff primary.[6][7] She succeeded Representative George E. Young, who had run for a seat in the Oklahoma Senate.[8][3] She was the third Seminole to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature.[4]

In 2020, Pittman ran for reelection and in the Democratic primary she was challenged by Susan Porter, the daughter of E. Melvin Porter who was the first black member of the Oklahoma Senate.[3] Pittman defeated Porter in the Democratic primary.[9]

Tenure

In 2020, Pittman was appointed to the Joint Legislative Committee on State and Tribal Relations by Speaker of the House Charles McCall.[10] She is a member of the Oklahoma Legislature Black Caucus.[11]

During the 2020 presidential election Pittman endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.[12]

Political positions

In 2020, Pittman was endorsed by EMILY's List.[13]

In 2021, legislation which would prohibit governmental entities from mandating vaccination and from inflicting penalties against any person who refuses to vaccinate, including children, was passed through the public health committee by a vote of seven to one, with Pittman being the only vote against.[14] The legislation later passed in the state house by a vote of seventy-one to twenty-five.[15]

Electoral history

2018 Oklahoma House of Representatives 99th district 2018 Democratic primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ajay Pittman 2,194 38.13%
Democratic Nkem House 1,848 32.12%
Democratic Steve Davis 1,005 17,47%
Democratic Crentha Sequoya Turner 707 12.29%
Total votes 5,754 100.00%
2018 Oklahoma House of Representatives 99th district 2018 Democratic runoff primary[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ajay Pittman 1,481 51.91%
Democratic Nkem House 1,372 48.09%
Total votes 2,853 100.00%
2020 Oklahoma House of Representatives 99th district 2018 Democratic primary[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ajay Pittman (incumbent) 2,837 51.95%
Democratic Susan Porter 2,624 48.05%
Total votes 5,461 100.00%

References

  1. ↑ "Senator George Young". Oklahoma Senate. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Ajay Pittman date of birth and birth name Page 7" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Political families face off in OKC's House District 99". June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Meet Ajay". Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ajay Pittman's Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "2018 Oklahoma primary election results". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "2018 Oklahoma primary runoff election results". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Front and center". Oklahoma Gazette. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "2020 Oklahoma primary election results". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Pittman appointed to Tribal Relations Committee". The Journal Record. May 21, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Few Hearings, Fewer Votes: Police Oversight Bills See Little Attention in Oklahoma's Legislature". Oklahoma Watch. June 13, 2020. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Oklahoma City Rep. Ajay Pittman Endorses Biden". KWTV-DT. February 26, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ "EMILY'S LIST ENDORSES AJAY PITTMAN FOR THE OKLAHOMA'S 99TH HOUSE DISTRICT". EMILY's List. June 26, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  14. ↑ "New bill would prevent a vaccine mandate in the state". KOKH-TV. February 10, 2021. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Bill prohibiting vaccine mandate heads to OK Senate floor". KJRH-TV. April 6, 2021. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
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