David Oks

David E. Oks is an American writer and former political activist, best known for organizing and managing the Mike Gravel 2020 presidential campaign as a high school senior. In 2020, Oks helped found The Gravel Institute, a progressive political advocacy group named after Mike Gravel, following the end of Gravel's 2020 presidential campaign.

Early life and education Oks was born to a family of Jewish immigrants from Argentina, who have been described as "socialist" in regards to his views.

Oks attended the Masters School, where he was a student when he convinced former senator Mike Gravel to enter the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

Campaign work Oks previously ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for mayor of Ardsley, New York in 2017. His campaign for mayor was notable for his young age, which received attention in The New York Times and on WNYC. He garnered 50 votes, or approximately 3% of the vote, in the election.

Mike Gravel 2020 presidential campaign Oks contacted Gravel on March 14, 2019, to propose a campaign in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. Gravel was hesitant at first, but Oks and school friend Henry Williams convinced Gravel to launch a campaign in order to promote their left-of-center political views.

Shortly after the campaign unofficially launched on March 20, 2019, Oks claimed authorship of posts that attracted much attention on Twitter.

Subsequent work According to The American Prospect, Oks was involved with the creation of the Gravel Institute, a now defunct advocacy group that promoted progressive causes and ideas through YouTube videos. including reporting from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

With Henry Williams, Oks published a piece in American Affairs arguing that outside of East Asia, development built on manufacturing has generally failed and has weak prospects.