James Lankford

James Paul Lankford, born on March 4, 1968, is an influential American Baptist minister and politician currently serving as Oklahoma's senior United States senator, a position he has held since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Lankford previously represented Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 2011 to 2015.

Before entering politics, Lankford was the president of the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center from 1996 to 2009, where he oversaw a prominent youth camp operated by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. An ordained Southern Baptist minister, he transitioned to a political career by running for the U.S. House in 2010. In a competitive Republican primary, he emerged victorious against state representative Kevin Calvey and subsequently defeated Democratic challenger Billy Coyle in the general election. His effective leadership led to his reelection in 2012, after which he was appointed chair of the House Republican Policy Committee.

In 2014, Lankford shifted his focus to the U.S. Senate, announcing his candidacy for the special election following Senator Tom Coburn's retirement. He secured the Republican nomination with 57% of the primary vote and won the special election with an impressive 68% against Democrat Connie Johnson. Lankford successfully retained his Senate seat in both the 2016 and 2022 elections, garnering nearly 68% and 64% of the votes, respectively. He became Oklahoma's senior senator in 2023, following the retirement of Senator Jim Inhofe.