Former U.S. Senator James Inhofe, an outspoken conservative and the longest-serving congressman in Oklahoma history, has died at 89.
Inhofe represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate for 28 years following his election in 1994, including as chairman of the Senate Armed Services and Senate Environment Committees. Before his time in the upper chamber, Inhofe served as mayor of Tulsa, a legislator in both chambers of the Oklahoma statehouse, and a representative in the U.S. House for eight years.
The Republican earned a reputation as one of the most conservative members of the Senate and a defense hawk who advocated growing defense spending. An Army veteran, Inhofe sounded the alarm about a rising military threat from China and pushed to advance U.S. military technologies in recent years.
But he was also willing to make friends and work with colleagues across the aisle on certain issues. Inhofe developed friendships with Democratic Senator Jack Reed (D., Rhode Island) — the current chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee — and former California Senator Barbara Boxer.
Another policy focus for Inhofe was building up American infrastructure, including transportation and water resources. Boxer and Inhofe worked together on many infrastructure bills, but the Republican opposed the 2021 infrastructure package passed by Congress, calling it a “grab bag of bad policy decisions.”
One of the few congressmen with a pilot’s license, Inhofe flew his own aircraft around the state for events and visits.
“He tried to ensure that his constituents knew he was working on their behalf, often traversing Oklahoma in a small plane on weekends and during congressional recesses to meet with them,” Ed Kelley, who covered Inhofe for The Oklahoman, told National Review in a statement.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Inhofe in a statement on Tuesday.
“The people he served, a group much larger than the proud residents of the Sooner State, were better for it,” McConnell said in a statement. “Jim’s diligent stewardship of massive infrastructure projects transformed life across the Heartland. His relentless advocacy for American energy dominance unlocked new prosperity across the country. And his laser focus on growing and modernizing the US military strengthened the security of the entire free world.”
One notable, made-for-TV moment came in February of 2015 when the Oklahoma Senator held up a snowball during a Senate floor speech arguing climate change was not man-made.
“I ask the chair, do you know what this is?” Inhofe said as he wielded the snowball. “It’s a snowball from outside here, so it’s very, very cold out.” He then tossed the snowball. “Mr. President, catch this.”
His views on global warming and other issues drew fire, but Inhofe was comfortable in controversy.
“To reporters who knew him and covered him on a regular basis, Senator Inhofe seldom shied away from commenting on important issues of the day,” Kelley said.