Mayors Offer Pragmatic Governance Amid National Partisan Division

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt offers a potent antidote to national polarization, revealing how cities, by necessity, function as pragmatic laboratories for effective governance. His insights underscore a critical, often overlooked, truth: the very constraints of municipal leadership--the need for tangible results and broad-based appeal--forge a more functional, less ideological approach to problem-solving. This conversation is essential for business leaders and policymakers alike, providing a blueprint for building consensus and achieving durable progress by focusing on shared needs rather than divisive identities. It unveils the hidden consequence that our current electoral systems, by amplifying extremes, obscure the widespread capacity for compromise and effective action that mayors demonstrate daily.

The Unseen Engine: How Cities Forge Pragmatism from Necessity

The prevailing narrative of American division often overlooks the quiet, consistent work happening at the municipal level. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, president of the US Conference of Mayors, presents a compelling counter-argument, demonstrating how the pragmatic demands of city governance cultivate a form of leadership that transcends partisan rancor. His experience in a deeply "purple" city, coupled with his role in leading mayors nationwide, reveals a systemic truth: when the rubber meets the road--when services like water and trash collection are on the line--ideological purity takes a backseat to functional necessity. This forces a focus on the 70% of citizens in the middle, a demographic often drowned out in state and national political discourse dominated by the vocal extremes. The consequence-mapping here is stark: the electoral systems we employ at higher levels actively discourage the very compromise and collaboration that cities, by their very nature, must practice to survive and thrive.

Holt’s narrative of Oklahoma City’s transformation, driven by the MAPS initiative, powerfully illustrates this principle. Faced with an existential crisis following an oil bust and a humiliating rejection for a major job facility, the city didn't just rebrand; it fundamentally rebuilt its quality of life. This wasn't a quick marketing fix, but a sustained, voter-approved investment in infrastructure and amenities. The theory, borne out over three decades and $10 billion in investments, is that people--and thus economic opportunity--follow quality of life. This long-term vision, validated by 15 consecutive successful ballot initiatives, stands in contrast to short-term political gains.

"People just moved where they wanted to live and then the economic, the people who offer economic opportunity had no choice but to go where those people are, where those talented people are."

-- David Holt

This principle of investing in the underlying experience rather than just the marketing message is a critical insight. It highlights how immediate discomfort--the need to pass taxes and wait for improvements--can yield significant, compounding long-term advantages. Businesses and cities alike can learn from this: addressing the core problem, even if it’s harder in the moment, creates a more durable foundation for success than superficial solutions. The downstream effect of prioritizing quality of life is not just a more pleasant city, but a magnet for talent and investment, a self-reinforcing cycle of growth that conventional, short-sighted approaches often miss.

The Electoral System as a Polarization Engine

The most profound systemic insight from Mayor Holt is his analysis of how electoral systems directly contribute to national polarization. He argues that closed partisan primaries, common in state and federal elections, incentivize candidates to appeal to the most extreme fringes of their parties. This leaves the vast majority of voters--the "70% in the middle"--unrepresented and unheard.

"The extremes don't accept that difference. They want to annihilate everybody else. But that acceptance of pluralism is like an inherent value in American government that we have to embrace."

-- David Holt

In contrast, Oklahoma City's "top two" system, where all candidates face all voters on election day, forces a focus on broader appeal and common ground. This isn't about abandoning principles, but about recognizing that governing requires building coalitions. The downstream consequence of this pragmatic, inclusive electoral approach is evident in Holt's own electoral success and the consistent voter approval of city initiatives. It suggests that the dysfunction we observe nationally isn't necessarily an inherent trait of the American populace, but a product of flawed institutional design. The delay in adopting such inclusive systems nationally means that the country continues to suffer from hyper-partisanship, while cities like Oklahoma City demonstrate a more effective path forward.

Immigration: An Economic Imperative, Not a Political Football

Holt’s perspective on immigration offers a clear example of consequence-mapping applied to a contentious issue. He frames it not as a political wedge, but as an economic necessity. Oklahoma City’s sustained workforce shortage, even with historically low unemployment, demands a steady influx of labor. To ignore this reality, he argues, is to court economic stagnation.

"If you don't do that, you're going to suffer economic consequences."

-- David Holt

The hidden cost of anti-immigration rhetoric, from Holt’s perspective, is the potential economic damage incurred by failing to meet labor demands. While acknowledging the need for controlled and regulated immigration, his focus is on the practical benefits: filling jobs, driving growth, and enriching culture. This pragmatic approach, grounded in observable economic needs rather than ideological dogma, allows for a more rational policy discussion. The delayed payoff here is a more robust and resilient economy, built on a foundation of available talent. This stands in stark contrast to policies that prioritize political signaling over economic reality, ultimately harming the very communities they claim to protect.

Cities as Ballast in a Polarized Nation

Holt positions cities, and mayors in particular, as a crucial "ballast" against national extremism. Their mandate is to deliver essential services, which inherently requires cooperation and a focus on tangible outcomes. This creates a feedback loop: effective governance builds trust, which in turn allows mayors to advocate for their cities' needs and to model more collaborative approaches. The US Conference of Mayors serves as a powerful institutional embodiment of this, operating with a rare bipartisan consensus.

The challenge, as Holt notes, is that federal and state governments often operate under different incentive structures, leading to interventions like ICE raids or National Guard deployments that undermine local control and create friction. Mayors, caught in the middle, must navigate these forces while still delivering for their constituents. This requires a strategic application of influence, understanding that not every battle can be fought, and that sometimes, the most effective action is to continue doing the essential work. The competitive advantage for cities lies in their ability to demonstrate that effective governance is possible, offering a model that can, over time, push back against the "insanity and hyper-partisanship" seen at other levels.

AI's Slow Trickle into Local Government

On the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Holt offers a grounded perspective that eschews hype. While acknowledging its potential, he notes that cities are currently "exploring" and not yet "revolutionized" by AI. Governments, he suggests, are typically lagging indicators in innovation, more cautious and prone to adopting technologies after they’ve been proven in the private sector. This highlights a systemic characteristic: the inherent conservatism of public institutions, which prioritize stability and risk aversion. The delayed payoff for cities in adopting AI might be a more efficient and effective service delivery, but the immediate reality is a slow, deliberate integration process, driven by prudence rather than a race for technological supremacy.

• Focus on Core Services: Prioritize delivering essential city services (water, sanitation, public safety) with unwavering reliability. This builds foundational trust.
  • Immediate Action: Review operational efficiency metrics for core services.
  • Longer-Term Investment (6-12 months): Implement process improvements identified in reviews.
• Champion Inclusive Electoral Systems: Advocate for and support electoral reforms that broaden participation and incentivize compromise, such as "top two" or open primaries.
  • Immediate Action: Educate stakeholders on the impact of electoral systems on polarization.
  • Longer-Term Investment (1-2 years): Support local initiatives for electoral reform.
• Embrace Pragmatic Immigration Policies: Frame immigration as an economic necessity and advocate for balanced, regulated approaches that meet workforce demands.
  • Immediate Action: Quantify local workforce needs and potential immigration solutions.
  • Longer-Term Investment (12-18 months): Develop partnerships with immigrant support organizations to facilitate workforce integration.
• Strengthen Business-City Partnerships: Foster collaborative relationships with the business community, focusing on creating a favorable regulatory and economic environment for growth.
  • Immediate Action: Convene regular meetings with local business leaders to identify pain points.
  • Longer-Term Investment (Ongoing): Streamline permitting and regulatory processes for businesses.
• Invest in Quality of Life for Long-Term Growth: Continue to invest in public amenities and infrastructure, recognizing that quality of life attracts talent and drives economic development.
  • Immediate Action: Assess current quality-of-life investments and their impact.
  • Longer-Term Investment (3-5 years): Develop and fund new, voter-approved quality-of-life initiatives.
• Model Pluralism and Compromise: Actively demonstrate acceptance of diverse lifestyles and political viewpoints, fostering an environment where compromise is valued.
  • Immediate Action: Publicly endorse the principles of pluralism and compromise in public forums.
  • Longer-Term Investment (Ongoing): Integrate these values into city communications and public engagement strategies.
• Cautiously Explore AI Integration: Approach AI adoption with prudence, focusing on proven applications that enhance efficiency and service delivery without compromising stability.
  • Immediate Action: Establish a cross-departmental task force to explore AI use cases.
  • Longer-Term Investment (18-24 months): Pilot AI solutions in non-critical areas to gauge effectiveness and risks.