David Roberts (Oklahoma politician)

David Don Roberts (born 1985) is an American politician, bureaucrat, economic development official, author and historian from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. He began his political career at the age of 9, passing out campaign literature for legendary Oklahoma state senator Gene Stipe. Roberts is the author of Political Campaign Playbook, considered the ultimate insider’s How-To guide for successfully running for public office. In 2003 he was elected as the National President of Business Professionals of America, a Career and Technical Student Organization. Roberts began to gain notoriety as a political operative serving on high profile political campaigns including U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, U.S. Congressman Mark Critz, and then-United States Senator Barack Obama’s campaign for President of the United States, the committee Obama for America. Roberts has become less active in politics following his grandmother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, prompting his return to Oklahoma where he served as her caregiver and attempted to manage one more political campaign, state Senator Constance Johnson, in her bid for the United States Senate. Seeking to continue living in Oklahoma permanently following his grandmother’s death, Roberts started Sooner State Strategies, a public relations, political consulting and lobbying firm registered in the state of Oklahoma. Roberts, the company’s founder, served as the Chief Executive Officer until 2022 when he resigned to return to work for the Democratic Party. 
==Early life==
Born in Poteau, Oklahoma, in 1985, Roberts was raised in McCurtain, Oklahoma located in Haskell County, Oklahoma. He graduated from McCurtain High School in McCurtain, Oklahoma and attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where he studied political science and history. Roberts was appointed by the government of the Town of McCurtain to serve as the Grant and Public Resource Administrator, acquiring more than $1.5 million in state and federal funding while serving in that capacity.
==Political Activities==
Roberts has worked on a number of political campaigns including Oklahoma congressional and gubernatorial campaigns. In 2008 Roberts served as staff for both the primary and general election campaigns of Barack Obama. He also worked for former Arkansas U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln’s 2010 elections, Chief Bill John Baker’s campaign for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, and the 2012 Wisconsin recall of Gov. Scott Walker. Roberts worked with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee or DCCC, serving in the capacity of Field Director for Congressman Mark Critz (PA-12). He served as a senior advisor and political director of Oklahoma State Senator Connie Johnson in her bid against U.S. Senator James Lankford’s run for the seat he currently occupies. In addition to electoral work, Roberts has also worked on state questions and legislative issues. Roberts lobbied for passage of Arkansas’ Main Street Fairness Act which Arkansas Governor Beebe signed into law in 2011. He was hired by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to manage the Oklahoma portion of their 'Fast for Families' campaign for immigration policy reform. Roberts lost his grandmother to Alzheimer's Disease in 2016 and currently serves as an advocacy ambassador for the Alzheimer's Association. 
As a current official of the Democratic Party, Roberts divides his time between Oklahoma City, Fort Smith, Arkansas and Washington, DC. Identifying himself as a gay man as early as 2004, Roberts proudly attached this label to himself long before the national trend leaned towards acceptance. Roberts advocated for marriage equality and other gay rights issues across the nation including in rural red-state Oklahoma. He continues to be a passionate advocate for equality and fight for issues relating to gender and LGBTQ+. 
Category:1985 births
Category:American people
Category:American politicians