Two more OU students are entering the Democratic side of the race for what will be an open seat in Oklahoma State House of Representatives District 44.

Emily Virgin, a first-year law student, said a family history of serving in political office motivated her to seek the office being vacated by Democrat Bill Nations, who cannot stand for re-election because of term limits.

"When you grow up around something, that's what you end up loving," she said. "It's really what I feel called to do. It's my passion."

Her grandfather is George Skinner, a Cleveland County commissioner representing District 3.

Virgin received a bachelor's degree in political science from OU in 2009. She worked as an equipment manager for the OU football team while an undergraduate.

Isaiah McCaslin announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination on Monday. He is a public policy junior.

McCaslin moved to Los Angeles when he was 18 to work with the Assemblies of God Dream Center, a program offering drug counseling, homeless outreach and food assistance. From there, he engaged in other humanitarian efforts in East Africa before coming to Norman in 2004 to attend OU.

"My history has been as a community organizer up to this point," he said. "I've worked with a lot of organizations over the last many years, doing different things in different areas … but I see an opportunity, a window of opportunity right now, to bring a different perspective to the Capitol."

McCaslin is currently a private first class in the Army Reserve. Locally, he has worked with the Norman Sustainability Network, OnTrac (a group advocating for Oklahoma rail transit) and Bike Against Hunger.

The pair are joined by fellow OU student Matthew Hecox. Hecox, a history senior and also a Democrat, announced his candidacy for the seat Jan. 12.

District 44 covers much of Norman, including the OU campus. It stretches from Tecumseh Road in the north to Highway 9 in the South, I-35 in the west and Porter Avenue and Classen Boulevard in the west.

The primary election is July 27, with the general vote set for Nov. 2.