U.S. Senator James Inhofe has died at the age of 89. He was the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, serving from 1994 to 2023.
Inhofe was an elected official representing the Tulsa area for nearly three decades. He represented parts of Tulsa in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1966 to 1969 and the Oklahoma Senate from 1969 to 1977. During his time in the state legislature he was known for feuding with the Democratic Party's state leadership, particularly Governor David Hall and state treasurer Leo Winters, and spearheading the movement to bring the USS Batfish to Oklahoma. While a state senator, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Oklahoma in the 1974 election and the U.S. House in 1976. He was elected to three terms as the Mayor of Tulsa, serving between 1978 and 1984. He served in the United States House of Representatives representing Oklahoma's 1st congressional district from 1987 to 1994, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
1 of 8 Chairman Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) gives opening remarks at the confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense nominee retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. Previously Gen. Austin was the commanding officer of the U.S. Central Command in the Obama administration. Photo: Pool / Getty Images News / Getty Images
2 of 8 (L-R) Ranking member Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) talks with General Glen VanHerck, Commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, as they arrive for a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill March 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. Photo: Drew Angerer / Getty Images News / Getty Images
3 of 8 U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe looks on as President Donald Trump speaks on immigration issues while meeting with members of the U.S. Congress in the Cabinet Room of the White House June 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images News / Getty Images
4 of 8 Donald Trump (R), president of the Trump Organization, listens as U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) testifies before the Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security Subcommittee Capitol Hill July 21, 2005 in Washington, DC. Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images
5 of 8 Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images News / Getty Images
6 of 8 Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) introduces Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) at a campaign stop February 26, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo: J Pat Carter / Getty Images News / Getty Images
7 of 8 Sen. James Inhofe talks with reporters before attending for the weekly Senate Republicans policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol January 07, 2020 in Washington, DC. Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News / Getty Images
8 of 8 Photo: Samuel Corum / Getty Images News / Getty Images