WASHINGTON — Oklahomans in Washington increased their influence as Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Tulsa) joined the Senate and House Republican leadership teams.
Lankford joined the Senate Republican Conference leadership as the Vice Chairman. He was selected during the Senate Republican Conference’s leadership election early Wednesday morning.
Hern is joining the House Republican Conference’s leadership as the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He was elected during the House Republican Conference’s leadership election late Wednesday afternoon.
Why it matters: Lankford and Hern are now fifth in the leadership hierarchy of their respective conferences for the upcoming 119th Congress.
- Hern will lead the policy committee which helps guide the legislative agenda in the House of Representatives.
- The policy committee also provides a forum for legislative discussion that Hern now has the ability to steer.
- As Vice Chair, Lankford will be responsible for keeping the minutes during Republican Conference meetings, specifically the weekly Tuesday policy luncheon.
- Lankford is the first Republican Oklahoma Senator to serve in a leadership capacity since Sen. Don Nickles served as whip over twenty years ago.
How it happened: Lankford was seemingly rewarded for his work in the Senate during the 118th Congress while Hern had to campaign for his position.
- Hern ran against incumbent chairman, Gary Palmer (R-Alabama).
- Hern told Gaylord News he was asked to run by fellow Republican members of Congress.
- In a packet Hern passed out on Nov. 12, he listed endorsements from policy committee members: Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming) and Rep. Dan Meuser (R-New York). He was also endorsed by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore).
- Frank Lucas (R-Cheyenne) told Gaylord News he always votes for fellow Oklahomans.
- Lankford ran unopposed in his bid for Vice Chair.
Their plans: Lankford and Hern both plan to push President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative agenda through Congress.
- Hern told Gaylord News he plans to execute Trump’s agenda and mandate Republicans were given by voters in the Nov. 5 election.
- In a press conference following the Senate Republican leadership election, Lankford said the leadership team, Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance aim to “get the country back on the track that she is looking for.”
Kevin Eagleson is reporting from Gaylord News’ Washington bureau this fall as part of an OU Daily scholarship.
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News go to GaylordNews.net
