Oklahoma

State Senators:

James Lankford (R)

Term Start: January 3, 2015

Full Name: James Paul Lankford
Date of Birth: March 4, 1968
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Early Life and Education: James Lankford was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Garland, Texas. He attended Lakeview Centennial High School. Lankford earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. He later received a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1994.

Personal Life: James Lankford is married to Cindy Lankford, and they have two daughters. The family resides in Edmond, Oklahoma. Known for his dedication to public service and his commitment to conservative values, Lankford continues to work towards policies that promote economic growth, national security, and individual liberties.

Early Career: Before entering politics, Lankford worked in ministry. He served as the Director of Youth Ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma from 1996 to 2009. Lankford was also the Director of the Falls Creek Youth Camp, one of the largest youth camps in the United States, where he focused on youth leadership and spiritual development.

Political Career:

U.S. House of Representatives: In 2010, Lankford was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district. He served two terms from 2011 to 2015. During his time in the House, Lankford focused on issues such as fiscal responsibility, government reform, and national security. He was known for his conservative stance on economic and social issues.
U.S. Senate: In 2014, Lankford ran for the U.S. Senate in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Senator Tom Coburn. He won the election and took office on January 3, 2015. Lankford was re-elected in 2016 and 2022. As a senator, he has continued to advocate for conservative policies, emphasizing fiscal discipline, national security, and religious liberty.

Committee Assignments:

Committee on Finance
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Select Committee on Ethics (Vice Chairman)
Select Committee on Intelligence

Legislative Achievements:

Budget and Fiscal Policy: Lankford advocates for fiscal responsibility, emphasizing the reduction of government spending and balancing the federal budget. He has supported various measures to streamline government operations and eliminate wasteful spending.
National Security: Serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Lankford focuses on strengthening national security and improving cybersecurity. He has supported legislation to enhance border security and counter-terrorism efforts.
Healthcare: Lankford supports market-based healthcare reforms and has voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He advocates for policies that increase competition, reduce costs, and improve access to healthcare services.
Religious Freedom: Lankford is a strong advocate for religious liberty and has supported legislation that protects religious organizations and individuals’ rights to practice their faith without government interference.
Education: Lankford has focused on education policies that promote local control and parental choice. He supports measures to increase funding for vocational and technical training and improve the quality of education in public schools.

Senator Lankford is known for his dedication to fiscal responsibility, national security, healthcare reform, religious freedom, and education. His background in ministry and his experience in the U.S. House of Representatives shape his legislative priorities in the U.S. Senate, where he continues to advocate for policies that benefit Oklahomans and the nation.

Committees

Finance: Committee plays a crucial role in shaping the economic direction of a country or region by influencing fiscal and monetary policies that impact individuals, businesses, and governments.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee plays a critical role in shaping policies related to national security, ensuring effective and efficient government operations, and maintaining oversight of federal agencies and programs.

Select Committee on Ethics: Committee plays a role in maintaining the integrity of the Senate by ensuring that all members and staff adhere to the highest ethical standards. It operates with a bipartisan approach to uphold the ethical principles and accountability of the legislative body.

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between national security needs and the protection of civil liberties by ensuring that intelligence operations are conducted lawfully and effectively.

Voting patterns

Senator Lankford has a voting record that reflects his commitment to fiscal responsibility, national security, healthcare reform, religious freedom, and education.

Key Voting Patterns:

Fiscal Policy:

Budget and Spending: Lankford advocates for reducing government spending and balancing the federal budget. He has consistently voted for measures aimed at streamlining government operations and eliminating wasteful spending.
Tax Reform: Lankford supports lowering taxes and reducing regulatory burdens on businesses. He voted for the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” to reduce taxes for individuals and businesses.

National Security:

Defense Authorization: Lankford supports robust national defense measures and has consistently voted for the “National Defense Authorization Act” to ensure military readiness and support defense initiatives.
Cybersecurity: Lankford has focused on enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect national infrastructure and sensitive information. He supports legislation that strengthens U.S. cyber defense capabilities.

Healthcare:

Market-Based Reforms: Lankford supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with market-based solutions. He has voted for various measures aimed at increasing competition and reducing costs in the healthcare system.
Prescription Drug Costs: Lankford has supported efforts to lower prescription drug prices through market competition and increased transparency.

Religious Freedom:

Protection of Religious Rights: Lankford is a strong advocate for religious liberty and has supported legislation that protects religious organizations and individuals’ rights to practice their faith without government interference. He has consistently voted for measures that uphold religious freedoms and oppose restrictions on religious expression.

Education:

Local Control and Parental Choice: Lankford focuses on education policies that promote local control and parental choice. He supports measures to increase funding for vocational and technical training and improve the quality of education in public schools.
Higher Education: Lankford supports efforts to make higher education more affordable and accessible. He has introduced and voted for legislation to reduce the burden of student loans and increase financial aid for students.

Social Issues:

Conservative Values: Lankford upholds conservative values on social issues, including opposition to abortion and support for religious freedom. He has supported legislation to restrict abortion access and protect religious liberties.
Second Amendment: Lankford is a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights and has consistently voted against measures that would impose additional restrictions on gun ownership.

Senator Lankford’s voting record reflects his commitment to conservative principles, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, limited government intervention in healthcare, a strong national defense, and traditional social values. His stance on environmental issues prioritizes economic growth and energy independence.

Full Name: Markwayne Mullin
Date of Birth: July 26, 1977
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

Early Life and Education: Markwayne Mullin was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in the small town of Westville, Oklahoma. He attended Stilwell High School and later earned an associate degree in Applied Science in Construction Technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in 2010. Mullin also completed coursework in business administration at Rogers State University.

Personal Life: Markwayne Mullin is married to Christie Mullin, and they have six children. The family resides in Westville, Oklahoma. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to public service, Mullin continues to work towards policies that promote economic prosperity, security, and opportunity for all Americans.

Early Career: Before entering politics, Mullin took over his family’s plumbing business at the age of 20, growing it into a successful enterprise known as Mullin Plumbing, which expanded into other sectors including electrical work and HVAC services. He also hosted a home improvement radio show, “House Talk,” which aired across Oklahoma.

Markwayne Mullin (R)

Term Start: January 3, 2023

Political Career:

U.S. House of Representatives: In 2012, Mullin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Oklahoma’s 2nd congressional district. He served five terms from 2013 to 2023. During his time in the House, Mullin focused on issues such as healthcare, energy policy, and veterans’ affairs. He was a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he worked on legislation related to national security and economic policy.
U.S. Senate: In 2022, Mullin was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding retiring Senator James Inhofe. He took office on January 3, 2023. As a senator, Mullin has continued to advocate for conservative policies, emphasizing limited government, economic growth, and national security.

Committee Assignments:

Committee on Armed Services
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee on Indian Affairs

Legislative Achievements:

Energy Policy: Mullin is a strong advocate for the energy sector, particularly oil and gas. He supports legislation to promote energy independence, deregulate the energy industry, and enhance energy infrastructure.
Small Business: As a business owner, Mullin focuses on policies that support small businesses. He has introduced and supported legislation to reduce regulatory burdens, provide tax relief, and increase access to capital for small business owners.
Veterans’ Affairs: Mullin is committed to supporting veterans and has worked on legislation to improve veterans’ healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. He advocates for policies that ensure veterans receive the benefits and support they deserve.
Healthcare: Mullin supports market-based healthcare reforms and has voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He advocates for policies that increase competition, reduce costs, and improve access to healthcare services.
Agriculture: Representing a rural state, Mullin has worked on legislation to support farmers and ranchers. He focuses on policies that promote agricultural development and provide necessary resources for the agricultural community.

Senator Mullin is known for his dedication to energy policy, small business support, veterans’ affairs, healthcare reform, and agriculture. His background as a businessman and his experience in the U.S. House of Representatives shape his legislative priorities in the U.S. Senate, where he continues to advocate for policies that benefit Oklahomans and the nation.

Committees

Armed Services: Oversees military operations, defense policies, and the Department of Defense, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Environment and Public Works: Committee plays a critical role in shaping federal environmental policy and public works projects, conducting hearings, and reviewing legislation related to these areas. It aims to balance environmental protection with economic development and infrastructure needs.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP): Committee addresses issues related to health care, education, employment, and retirement policies.

Indian Affairs: Committee conducts hearings, investigations, and studies to address these issues and to develop and recommend legislation to the Senate that impacts Native American communities.

Voting patterns

Senator Mullin has a voting record that reflects his commitment to conservative values, energy independence, small business support, veterans’ affairs, healthcare reform, and agriculture.

Key Voting Patterns:

Energy Policy:

Fossil Fuels and Energy Independence: Mullin is a strong advocate for the oil and gas industry. He supports legislation that promotes energy independence, deregulates the energy sector, and enhances energy infrastructure, such as pipelines and drilling projects.
Environmental Regulations: Mullin often votes against stringent environmental regulations that he believes hinder energy production and economic growth.

Small Business:

Regulatory Relief: As a business owner, Mullin focuses on reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses. He supports legislation that provides tax relief, increases access to capital, and reduces unnecessary regulations that impact small business operations.
Economic Stimulus: Mullin has supported measures aimed at providing financial assistance to small businesses, especially during economic downturns, including COVID-19 relief packages.

Veterans’ Affairs:

Veterans’ Benefits: Mullin is committed to improving services for veterans. He has supported legislation to enhance healthcare, education, and employment opportunities for veterans, ensuring they receive the benefits and support they deserve.
Military Support: Mullin advocates for policies that improve the quality of life for military personnel and their families, including better healthcare, housing, and education benefits.

Healthcare:

Market-Based Reforms: Mullin supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with market-based solutions. He has voted for various measures aimed at increasing competition, reducing costs, and improving access to healthcare services.
Prescription Drug Costs: Mullin has supported efforts to lower prescription drug prices through market competition and increased transparency.

Agriculture:

Support for Farmers and Ranchers: Representing a rural state, Mullin focuses on policies that support agricultural development. He has worked on legislation to provide necessary resources, subsidies, and support for farmers and ranchers.
Trade Policies: Mullin supports trade policies that open up international markets for American agricultural products and protect the interests of U.S. farmers.

Social Issues:

Conservative Values: Mullin upholds conservative values on social issues, including opposition to abortion and support for religious freedom. He has supported legislation to restrict abortion access and protect religious liberties.
Second Amendment: Mullin is a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights and has consistently voted against measures that would impose additional restrictions on gun ownership.

Senator Mullin’s voting record reflects his commitment to conservative principles, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, limited government intervention in healthcare, a strong national defense, and traditional social values. His stance on environmental issues prioritizes economic growth and energy independence.