Ryan Martinez (politician)

Ryan Martinez is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 39th District since 2016. He was re-elected by default in 2020.[1] He was indicted for driving under the influence on December 22, 2022.

Ryan Martinez
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 39th district
Assumed office
November 23, 2016
Preceded byMarian Cooksey
Personal details
Born1984/1985 (age 37–38)
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Northern Colorado (B.A.)

Early life and education

Martinez was born in Edmond, Oklahoma to a Hispanic-American family. As a child, he attended a private school. He later described how he and other children like him were affected by racism in the United States at school, saying that they were all "labeled as problem children" and "just little brown kids that are probably going to end up drug dealers, prisoners, dead."[2] He later went on to earn his bachelor's of arts in political science from the University of Northern Colorado.[3]

Early career

Martinez worked as a field representative for Senator James Inhofe, served as staff for the Oklahoma House of Representatives during the speakership of T.W. Shannon, and worked as the executive director for the Oklahoma Republican State House Committee. He also worked as vice president of marketing and development for Sagac Public Affairs.[3]

Oklahoma House of Representatives


In June 2016, Martinez won in the Republican primary for the Oklahoma House of Representatives over fellow candidate Michael Buoy, with 68% of the votes.[4] In the general election, Martinez defeating Libertarian candidate Clark Duffe, with 76.49% of the votes.[5]

During his first re-election campaign in 2018, Martinez faced a Republican primary challenger from Denecia Taylor-Cassil.[6] Taylor-Cassil's campaign sent mailers accusing Martinez of being charged with driving under the influence in 2014. He responded to the mailers saying "[I] made a mistake one night in my 20s when a car struck my vehicle, and regrettably, I had a few drinks." The case was later expunged from court records.[7][8] He defeated Taylor-Cassil with 67% of the primary election.[9]

In 2020, during the aftermath of the 2020 United States presidential election and the attempts to overturn it by former President Donald Trump, Martinez supported Attorney General Mike Hunter's decision to join a brief in support of Texas in the case of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a Supreme Court case challenging election winner Joe Biden's success in the election.[10]

In 2021, Martinez chaired the House Redistricting Committee in charge of redistricting in Oklahoma after the 2020 United States census.[11] He also collaborated with fellow state representative Jose Cruz as well as state senators Michael Brooks and Jessica Garvin to create a bipartisan Latino caucus.[12]

In 2022, Martinez chaired the special investigative committee into the Swadley's BBQ scandal.[13] The same year, Martinez authored a successful bill to tie the number of weeks Oklahomans are eligible for unemployment to the number of Oklahomans applying for unemployment benefits. The bill increases the number of weeks from 16 weeks to up to 26 weeks when unemployment claims are high.[14] Later in the session, Martinez referred to Governor Kevin Stitt's veto of a bill requiring the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to count convictions in tribal courts when determining driver’s license suspensions as “racist and hateful”. The legislature later overrode Stitt's veto.[15]

Felony indictment

On October 26, 2022, the Edmond Police Department received a 911 call reporting Martinez was drunk at a bar and was about to leave in his vehicle. Police arrived and found him in his car where he was arrested for driving under the influence after he failed a field sobriety test.[16] During the arrest, he allegedly asked officers "Would you like me to call Kevin right now," in reference to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.[8] On December 22, 2022, Representative Martinez was indicted for felony “Actual Physical Control Of Vehicle While Intoxicated” in Oklahoma County.[17]

In 2023, Democratic lawmakers called "for Republican lawmakers to be held accountable" after Martinez, Terry O'Donnell, and Dean Davis all had trouble with the law. This came after the March 2023 censure of Representative Maureen Turner for sheltering someone wanted by the police in their office.[18]

Personal life

Martinez resides with his wife, Katie,[7] in his home city of Edmond. He is a member of Memorial Church of Christ in Edmond.[3]

Electoral history

Martinez was re-elected without opposition in 2020.[19]

Martinez was re-elected without opposition in 2022.[20]

References
  1. Savage, Tres (2020). "More than 40 Oklahoma legislators re-elected by default". NonDoc.
  2. Carter, Ray (20 May 2021). "School choice bill headed to governor". Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Representative Ryan Martinez - Oklahoma House of Representatives". www.okhouse.gov. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  4. "Oklahoma state legislature primary results". Tulsa World. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  5. "Ryan Martinez (Oklahoma)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  6. "State Representative". Tulsa World. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  7. Clay, Nolan (22 June 2018). "Two Oklahoma candidates have turned a House race into a political battlefield". The Oklahoman.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Felder, Ben (2 November 2022). "Edmond representative accused of DUI, offers to call governor". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. Chastain, Lindsey (16 June 2018). "State passes 788, Mike Fisher wins for DA". Tulsa World. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. "Oklahoma joins in support of Texas' lawsuit challenging presidential election results in 4 states". KOCO-TV. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  11. Forman, Carmen (1 September 2020). "All 101 state House members to help with Oklahoma redistricting". The Oklahoman. Tulsa World. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  12. "Oklahoma House, Senate Members Announce New Latino Caucus". Associated Press. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  13. Krehbiel, Randy (13 May 2022). "House committee opens investigation of state park restaurant deal". Tulsa World. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  14. Krehbiel, Randy (24 May 2022). "Bill tying unemployment benefits to labor market among latest signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt". Tulsa World. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  15. Hoberock, Barbara; Krehbiel, Randy (28 May 2022). "Irked lawmakers override Stitt vetoes on last day of regular session but accept his challenge to create a better budget". Tulsa World. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  16. Tomlinson, Joe (27 December 2022). "Rep. Ryan Martinez charged with felony for alcohol-related arrest". NonDoc. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  17. Gorman, Reese (22 December 2022). "State Rep. Ryan Martinez charged with felony in connection with October DUI arrest". The Frontier. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  18. "'Last night has become a story': Broken Arrow Rep. arrested for public intoxication". Fox 25. 23 March 2023.
  19. "Gallery: Tulsa-area state legislators being reelected with no contest this year". Tulsa World. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  20. Forman, Carmen (17 April 2022). "Who is and isn't running for the Oklahoma Legislature in 2022? What you should know". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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