Top Democratic legislative leaders to speak November 11 to Canadian County Democrats

YUKON, Okla. – The two most powerful Democratic leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature will speak to the Canadian County Democrats from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, November 11, at the Yukon Police Department, 100 S. Ranchwood.

The Democrats regularly meet on the second Monday of each month, except December when the organization hosts a holiday party for members.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt (Democrat – District 30) and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (Democrat – District 85) will share their perspectives on November 5th election and plans for electing Democrats and strengthening the party in the future.

Senator Kirt has served District 30, including parts of northwest Oklahoma City, Bethany and Warr Acres, since 2018. During her first term, she helped lead improvements in access to mental health treatment as a founding member and co-chair of the Legislative Mental Health Caucus. She also served as a co-chair of the Waiting List Caucus, which connects families, services providers and lawmakers committed to achieving robust and inclusive disability services.

Senator Kirt will succeed Senator Kay Floyd who led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2018. Floyd has served the maximum number of years and will leave office in November.

Kirt graduated from Leadership OKC Class XXI. She is an active volunteer leader in educational and community organizations, including a board member for Downtown Strategic Initiatives and a task force member for Read OKC. She is a member of Rotary Club 29 and a graduate of the Salt and Light Leadership Training and the Leadership Exchange Academy.

She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s in art history and Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree.

In 2015, Lawton native Representative Cyndi Munson became the first Asian-American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature. She represents citizens who live in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma City and The Village. Her colleagues elected her the House Democratic caucus chair in 2018 and to a second term as Democratic House Minority Leader in 2023.

Speaker Charles McCall appointed Munson to the Oversight Committee for the Legislative Office for Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), Oklahoma’s first state evaluation office. Her service also includes the Occupational Licensing Advisory Commission, State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee, Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, Alzheimer’s State Planning Committee and Children and Families Council Foster Care Task Force.

A first-generation college student, Munson graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in political science and was awarded the Presidential Gold Medal for Leadership and Public Service. She studied non-profit and voluntary services at Georgetown University and earned a master’s of science in leadership education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Munson is a graduate of Youth Leadership Oklahoma Class III, Leadership Oklahoma City’s LOYAL Class VIII and Leadership Oklahoma Class 31. Munson was selected to participate in the Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellowship Program.

“We are happy and honored to welcome Senator Kirt and Representative Munson to Canadian County,” Canadian County Democrats Chair Jody Harlan said. “They are outstanding leaders committed to all the people in their districts and the state of Oklahoma.”

The Canadian County Democrats stream their meetings on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5515451639. The meeting ID is 551 545 1639 and
passcode is 3600. The Canadian County Democrats reserve the right to refuse entry or remove participants who disrupt any meeting.

For more information, email chair@canadiancodems.org or phone 405-326-3600.