(Update:Â On Tuesday, June 16, Democratic candidates Dr. Herschel Brown and Carlos Robinson advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff election.)
With House District 99 open after former Oklahoma Rep. Ajay Pittman resigned in January and pleaded guilty to three felony charges, five Democrats are running to serve the northeast-OKC area.
Dr. Herschel Brown, Steve Davis, Carlos Robinson, Derrick Sier and Alan Washington all filed for the open HD 99 seat, and each has significant ties to the community.
Four of HD 99’s Democratic candidates participated in a May 7 forum hosted by the OKC Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, while Davis was said to have a conflict.
House District 99 covers a swath north and east Oklahoma City, running from the intersection of Reno Avenue and Martin Luther King Avenue up to the intersection of May Avenue and Northwest 122nd Street.
If none of the candidates receives a majority in the June 16 primary, the top two finishers will face each other in an Aug. 25 runoff election. The eventual Democratic nominee will face a Republican opponent, Melvin Latham, in November.
The following cheat sheet offers an overview of the HD 99 Democratic candidates based on information from publicly available sources, such as websites, social media pages and other online resources. Candidates are presented in alphabetical order.
Dr. Herschel Brown
Age: 62
Profession/Background: Dr. Herschel Brown is an emergency room physician at OU Health. Brown “serves as an attending physician and educator, dedicating over 30 years to caring for patients and mentoring future doctors,” his website states. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Oklahoma and earned his medical degree from the OU College of Medicine.
Platform: Brown, who has been endorsed in a Facebook ad by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, wants to “champion health care access and affordability by protecting Medicare and Medicaid access for Oklahomans.” He also wants to fund mental health care.Â
“Too many Oklahomans with mental health challenges are left behind because funding is diverted from these critical services. I will fight to restore and increase funding for community mental health centers, crisis intervention, school-based services and accessible outpatient treatment,” Brown wrote on his website. “Every Oklahoman deserves timely, compassionate care. No one should be denied mental health treatment because of budget constraints.”
Brown said “a strong Oklahoma begins with strong classrooms.”
“Oklahoma’s public schools deserve reliable funding, its teachers deserve competitive pay and educators deserve a voice at the table,” Brown wrote on his website. “I will fight to increase school funding so every child has access to a safe classroom, up-to-date materials and the support they need to succeed in the modern economy.”
Steve Davis
Age: 55
Profession/Background: Steve Davis is the founder of Believe Group, which aims “to improve the life-outcomes and achievement of young African-American males.” Davis founded Making of Men and the Waking of Women with similar goals of youth mentorship. Davis previously ran for HD 99 in 2014 and 2018.
Platform: Davis proposed declaring an emergency to authorize the use of Oklahoma’s Constitutional Reserve Fund for childcare in a post on his Facebook page. In a separate Facebook post, Davis expressed support for State Question 832, which would raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage incrementally if passed by voters.
On Facebook, Davis outlined how he would approach working with the Republican supermajority at the State Capitol.
“I have strong relationships with conservatives across our state, not because we see the world the same way, but because we respect the dignity of one another enough to sit at the same table,” Davis wrote. “I believe in a philosophy I call operational unity. It’s simple. If there are 10 issues before us and we only agree on one, then we roll up our sleeves and go to work on that one together. We do not allow disagreement to become paralysis. We do not allow ideology to rob people of results.”
Davis also seeks to provide quality education and affordable health care for Oklahomans.
Links: Facebook
Carlos Robinson
Age: 43
Profession/Background:Â Carlos Robinson is the president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce, according to his LinkedIn.
He holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Oklahoma City University, a master’s in business administration and a doctorate in education with a focus on administration and leadership from Southern Nazarene University. In his 20s, Robinson gained notoriety in northeast OKC as a member of the dance crew Sex Mobb.
Platform:Â Robinson was born and raised in HD 99, which he has emphasized in his campaign.
“District 99 helped shape my values, my work ethic, and my commitment to service,” Robinson wrote on his website. “I am running to strengthen our workforce, promote education, and help ensure every family and small business has the ability to succeed.”
Robinson’s website outlines multiple ways he plans to communicate with constituents, like regular town hall meetings and an HD 99 hotline.
“I will continue to be accessible, transparent and community-focused,” Robinson wrote on his website.
His other priorities include advocating “for education systems that prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed for long-term success.” He plans to aid workforce development by “promoting partnerships between education, training programs and employers to help residents access stable, well-paying careers.” Robinson wants to provide affordable health care and “strengthen the health care workforce so families can receive the care they need close to home.”
Derrick Sier
Age: 44
Profession/Background: Derrick Sier is the owner of One Mind, One Spirit, a small business he founded in 2012 to provide professional development and team building services, according to his website. Sier has also previously served as a youth workforce director at Restore OKC and has worked to develop youth mentoring and intervention programs with Oklahoma City Public Schools and the Oklahoma City Police Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s in theological studies from Southwestern Christian University.
Platform:Â In his campaign, Sier has emphasized leading with integrity.
“We must ensure our district remains corruption free and continues to demand the absolute best levels of accountability and fidelity from its leaders and for our community,” Sier wrote on his website.
Sier wants to fund “opportunities for all individuals to access mental health services” and “put more money into our rehab and substance abuse services and prevention efforts.”
“I believe expanding access to quality, affordable health care will strengthen our workforce, support rural hospitals, and ensure every individual can thrive,” Sier wrote on his website.
Sier cited “damage done by Ryan Walters” that “will take years to repair.”
“We have to rebuild to prioritize increasing teacher pay, investing in intervention and other strategies that will help our students read on grade level, including smaller classroom sizes, afterschool programming, mental health support for children, and stop unfunded mandates,” Sier wrote on his website.
Alan Washington
Age: 64
Profession/Background:Â Alan Washington has worked for Bridges Health, a skilled nursing and long-term care provider, for 25 years.
His mother, Alma Faye Posey Washington, participated in the original Katz Drug Store sit-ins. He later became president of the NAACP Youth Council under the direction of Clara Luper, according to his campaign website.
His website notes he earned a bachelor’s degree at Langston University but does not specify a field of study. Washington campaigned as a George Nigh “Good Guy” while Nigh was campaigning for governor.
In 1993, Washington pleaded guilty to a felony charge of employee embezzlement. Court records show that, in 1999, he paid off his fees and his deferred sentence expired.
Platform:Â Washington wants to prioritize mental health resources and trauma-informed support, his website states. In education, he wants to expand mentorship, arts and enrichment opportunities and partner with community organizations to “help youth thrive.”
Washington has led a neighborhood watch group and wants to support more of them, along with community policing strategies. To “prevent harm before it starts,” Washington supports programs that “improve lighting, infrastructure and response to neighborhood concerns.”
Washington lists more priorities on his Facebook page.
“Together we can improve education, health care access, senior services and seek economic relief,” Washington wrote.
With campaign sign drama common each election cycle, Washington noted his adherence to city ordinances when someone asked why his signs were not displayed at an event.
“I had to inform him that campaign signs in a park is a violation of city ordinances,” Washington wrote on his Facebook page. “It speaks to ethics and integrity.”
(Correction: This article was updated at 4:58 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to update a candidate’s current occupation.)
