3 Democrats seek open south Oklahoma City House seat in Tuesday's primary election

The seat for south Oklahoma City's House District 89 has remained unfilled for almost six months after former Rep. Jose Cruz announced his resignation for “acting inappropriately” at a New Year’s Eve party.

Three Democratic candidates are seeking the seat in the upcoming Oklahoma primary elections on Tuesday.

Without an incumbent or Republican opponent, candidates Arturo Alonso, 23, Cristian Zapata, 23, and Chris Bryant, 66, will vie to represent the predominantly Latino district.

Arturo Alonso says the 'future is ours'

Alonso graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May with a degree in mechanical engineering, but his interest in politics began in high school when he volunteered on Democratic state Sen. Michael Brooks' campaign.

Years later, those local politicians he worked with remembered Alonso, and encouraged him to trade engineering for public service.

“I ended up deciding to (run) because I care, and I'm definitely willing to learn,” Alonso said. “I feel like my community hasn't always had the best representation, so I want to make sure we do have good representation when it comes to politics.”

Alonso comes from immigrant parents born in Guanajuato, Mexico. Growing up, he had to help translate for his parents and friends in various encounters, most notably, he said, at doctor’s offices.

Alonso said many people he has talked to during the campaign wish they had a Spanish-speaking representative, and he believes he can help “bridge that gap.”

Alonso said mental health remains a priority for him because it carries into almost every political issue, including criminal justice reform.

At 23, Alonso said he wants the youths to be more involved in politics, referencing his slogan "The future is ours."

“I believe you need fresh, new perspectives when it comes to politics. Especially being a young person, I know a lot of times there isn’t as much connection from the political figures we currently have,” Alonso said. “We have more stakes in the politics of things … I'm fighting for my own future.”

Cristian Zapata and 'uplifting a community'

Zapata runs for House District 89 again after his defeat to Cruz in 2020.

“I feel like the second time around I'm better at understanding the process,” Zapata said.

As a life-long resident of the district, Zapata said he believes he knows what the community wants and needs.

“I grew up very similarly to a lot of people here: first-generation immigrant, first to be educated, first to go to college. I want them to know that I would do the same things they would do if they were in office,” he said.

When knocking on voters’ doors, Zapata said he hears many of their concerns.

“A lot of them would want to see their community improved first, so that means better roads, better schools, reduced violence, and just general beautification improvements and education improvements,” he said. “They want to know their families are safe.”

Zapata said he believes workers' rights and unionization practices are the best way to better equip his community. He said when his father received a factory job with a union, it changed his family’s life for the better.

Zapata said ending the “right to work,” which prohibits the requirement of union membership in Oklahoma, would be beneficial to workers.

Universal health care and free college and trade programs are also long-term goals of Zapata’s.

Zapata said he wants to provide resources for all in the community, including those incarcerated. With Oklahoma having one of the highest rates of incarceration, Zapata said he believes one of the core issues are private prisons, which profit from the fines and fees put on inmates.

While Zapata said he might be one of the most progressive candidates running, he will still “work across the aisle.”

Chris Bryant wants to 'represent everybody'

Bryant, an Oklahoma City resident since 1993, is the oldest candidate for House District 89. He said he believes he is wiser than his opponents.

With his past work as a security guard, cab driver and hospital aid, Bryant said he has more experience to offer voters.

“I've lived a life. I've done something … a lot of different things in my life,” Bryant said. “I'm a lot wiser now at 66 than I was at 23.”

Bryant said his main priority is to help “ordinary working people.”

Growing up a “military brat,” Bryant said he used to speak Spanish when he was a child, but regrets not retaining it today.

“That's made it hard for me to communicate with some of the voters, and that is handicapping me occasionally, but I'm going to make an effort to find out the views of all my constituents,” Bryant said. “I’m not going to be limited.”

Living in a Republican-led state, Bryant said it will be difficult working with people who have different values than him. But his strength, he said, is his older age compared to his opponents.

Bryant said one of his primary concerns with Oklahoma is corporate corruption.

“It may be hard to do anything about it in Oklahoma, but I really want to try to fight the power of big corporations. I think we've let them do pretty much what they want in this country,” Bryant said.

While District 89’s population is over 70% Latino, Bryant said he will represent every voter. He said he hopes to receive a Spanish translator if he wins the election.

“I think there are some people who kind of feel like the district should have a Hispanic representative … but I don't think that's necessarily a problem,” Bryant said. “I'm not representing white people or Hispanics, or any other race. I'm there to represent the people of the district that I'm going to be representing.”

For more information on where to vote, go to oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 3 Democrats square off in primary for south Oklahoma City House seat