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Nicole Maldonado

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Nicole Maldonado
Image of Nicole Maldonado
Elections and appointments
Last election

June 18, 2024

Contact

Nicole Maldonado (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives to represent District 88. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 18, 2024.

Maldonado completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Maldonado has experience working as a community organizer and advocate. Maldonado has been affiliated with Young Democrats of Oklahoma and League of United Latin Americans Citizens.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88

Ellen Pogemiller defeated Bobby McCollum in the general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ellen Pogemiller
Ellen Pogemiller (D) Candidate Connection
 
76.9
 
9,611
Bobby McCollum (Independent)
 
23.1
 
2,891

Total votes: 12,502
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88

Ellen Pogemiller defeated Nicole Maldonado and Paula Sophia in the Democratic primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88 on June 18, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ellen Pogemiller
Ellen Pogemiller Candidate Connection
 
53.5
 
1,444
Image of Nicole Maldonado
Nicole Maldonado Candidate Connection
 
30.8
 
832
Image of Paula Sophia
Paula Sophia
 
15.7
 
424

Total votes: 2,700
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Maldonado in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Nicole Maldonado completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Maldonado's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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As a Queer, Latina, Woman - Nicole Maldonado knows firsthand the MAGA movement attacks on Women, Immigrants, and the 2SLGBTQ+ communities - and that we must rally our communities to defend our democracy and uphold dignity and rights for all.

Spending part of her childhood in Colombia, Nicole was raised by a single mother and grandmother, who taught her the value of strength from an early age. Nicole credits her educators for teaching her the importance of acceptance and belonging. The power of community was instilled in Nicole from influential women and leaders in Oklahoma, making her who she is today.

Nicole earned a college scholarship to play tennis at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, where she studied Political Science. Nicole has worked in politics both on the campaign trail and at the state capitol with elected officials. She was recently recognized as NextGen 30 under 30 for her work as a community organizer and advocate. Currently, Nicole serves HD88 as a legislative assistant connecting residents to resources and Ward 2 on the Oklahoma City Community Public Safety Advisory Board.

House District 88 is a place where many neighbors have found safety and a welcoming community - hate has no home here. Nicole is committed to upholding the progressive values of House District 88 - Nicole will show up, stand up, and speak up for ALL our neighbors in House District 88 and in Oklahoma.
  • Recent attacks on the Immigrant and Refugee communities have increased, especially by Republican lawmakers who are more concerned about their next election. As an immigrant, Nicole knows firsthand the dangers of these attacks and how much it hurts our communities. Nicole is committed to protecting the immigrant community and making sure that there are collaborations with organizations that help the immigrant and refugee communities. Nicole supports:

    FIGHTING FOR BETTER IMMIGRATION POLICY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

    EMPOWERING REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS WITH ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

    ENDING NEGATIVE RHETORIC SURROUNDING IMMIGRATION
  • Public education is the foundation for future generations. Our kids deserve an inclusive and safe learning environment where they can learn, grow, and be themselves. Nicole will fight back against politicians like Ryan Walters who are politicizing our classrooms and will work to address the real problems facing our teachers, students and education system. Nicole supports: KEEPING PUBLIC DOLLARS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS UPHOLDING THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH AND CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS FUNDING INCREASE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND A PAY RAISE FOR OUR TEACHERS
  • Oklahoma City saw the largest increase in the country for rent last year, with an increase of nearly 25%. Over half the residents of House District 88 are renters, as a renter herself, Nicole knows firsthand the struggles residents in House District 88 are facing. Nicole will take action and work with leaders at every level of government and community to provide stable, affordable housing to everyone. Nicole supports: ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS CRISIS, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUTH PRIORITIZING POLICY THAT PROTECT TENANTS RIGHTS FIGHTING FOR A LIVING WAGE AND BETTER ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
As a Queer Latina Woman, Nicole brings first hand experience to address the most pressing issues facing Oklahomans today. Nicole will:

Stand up for Immigrants & Refugees Communities

Address the Affordable Housing & Homeless Crisis

Protect our Public Education & Support our Teachers

Expand & Fund Mental Health Services for all Oklahomans

Be an Advocate for the 2SLGBTQ Community

Champion Reproductive Healthcare & Women’s Rights
My educators have played a pivotal role in shaping who I am, instilling in me the values of belonging and acceptance. Among them, my fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Cabriales, stands out as a significant influence. At the age of ten, I left Colombia and my mother to move to the United States to live with my father, who had not been involved in my upbringing or education. Feeling isolated in a new country, Ms. Cabriales provided a safe and welcoming environment where I felt accepted.

During my adjustment period in America, Ms. Cabriales helped me stay connected to my family and life in Colombia, easing my transition into a new culture. Her support and the opportunities she provided were instrumental in my development; without her, I would not be the person I am today.

Currently, in Oklahoma, we have thousands of dedicated teachers like Ms. Cabriales who contribute immensely to the lives of our children. As a Representative, I will prioritize and support legislation that takes care of our Public School Teachers
One of the greatest challenges facing Oklahoma over the next decade is the lack of involvement in the political process, which poses a significant threat to our democracy. In the 2022 election, only 50.3% of eligible voters participated, reflecting a troubling level of disengagement. Furthermore, an estimated quarter of a million eligible voters in Oklahoma are not even registered. This widespread apathy and lack of participation undermine the foundations of our democratic system.

As we approach the 2024 legislative elections, the situation is even more concerning. In one-third of the races, not a single vote will be cast because only one candidate is running unopposed. Additionally, one out of every five races will be decided in the primary elections, limiting voter influence on the final outcomes. This lack of competition and voter participation diminishes the accountability of elected officials and the representativeness of our government.

The problem is particularly acute among younger Oklahomans and those who identify as Hispanic. These groups, already underrepresented, face additional barriers that further discourage their participation. Legislative measures that limit voting access and a lack of transparency in the political process only exacerbate these issues. These barriers not only reduce overall engagement but also disproportionately impact underserved and underrepresented communities, perpetuating a cycle of disenfranchisement and marginalization.

Addressing this challenge requires concerted efforts to increase voter registration and turnout, particularly among younger and minority populations. It also necessitates legislative reforms to remove barriers to participation and enhance transparency in the political process. Only by fostering a more inclusive and engaged electorate can Oklahoma ensure a healthy, functioning democracy that truly represents all its citizens.
Legislation to overturn the House Bill 4156
Current House District 88 Representative Mauree Turner, Oklahoma City Council-members James Cooper and JoBeth Hammon

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Nicole Maldonado campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88Lost primary$22,255 $21,273
Grand total$22,255 $21,273
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 20, 2024


Current members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Kyle Hilbert
Majority Leader:Mark Lawson
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Jim Olsen (R)
District 3
Rick West (R)
District 4
District 5
Josh West (R)
District 6
District 7
District 8
Tom Gann (R)
District 9
District 10
District 11
John Kane (R)
District 12
District 13
Neil Hays (R)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Jim Grego (R)
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
Jim Shaw (R)
District 33
District 34
District 35
Ty Burns (R)
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
Dick Lowe (R)
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
Rob Hall (R)
District 68
Mike Lay (R)
District 69
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
T. Marti (R)
District 76
Ross Ford (R)
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
Stan May (R)
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
District 101
Republican Party (81)
Democratic Party (20)