James Lankford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Lankford
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Leader | John Thune |
| Preceded by | Shelley Moore Capito |
| Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Chris Coons |
| In office December 19, 2019 – February 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Johnny Isakson |
| Succeeded by | Chris Coons |
| Vice Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Chris Coons |
| Succeeded by | Chris Coons |
| United States Senator from Oklahoma |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Markwayne Mullin
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| Preceded by | Tom Coburn |
| Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Leader | John Boehner |
| Preceded by | Tom Price |
| Succeeded by | Luke Messer |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Mary Fallin |
| Succeeded by | Steve Russell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Paul Lankford
March 4, 1968 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Cindy Hennessey
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BS) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) |
James Paul Lankford (born March 4, 1968) is an American politician who serves as a U.S. Senator for Oklahoma. He is a member of the Republican Party. Senator Lankford has represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate since 2015.
Before becoming a senator, he was a minister. From 1996 to 2009, he led the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. This is a large youth camp in Oklahoma. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.
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Early Life and Education
James Lankford was born on March 4, 1968, in Dallas, Texas. His mother was a school librarian. His grandparents owned a dry-cleaning business and a dairy farm.
When he was young, his parents divorced. He lived with his mother and older brother. He became a Christian at age eight. Later, his mother remarried, and they moved to Garland, Texas.
Lankford went to Lakeview Centennial High School. He also took part in a program called Close Up Washington. This program teaches students about government. He earned a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. He then earned a master's degree in Divinity in 1994. He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister.
Ministry Work
Lankford moved to Oklahoma in 1995. He became the president of the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in 1996. This is a youth camp run by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. He worked there until 2009. He left his role at Falls Creek to run for Congress.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Elections for the House
2010 Election
In 2010, the current representative, Mary Fallin, decided not to run again. James Lankford ran for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the Republican primary election. Then, he won the general election against Billy Coyle. He received 62.53% of the votes.
2012 Election
Lankford was reelected in 2012. He defeated Tom Guild with 59% of the votes. After this election, he became the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. This committee helps set the Republican Party's goals in the House.
What Committees He Joined
While in the House, James Lankford served on important committees:
- Budget Committee
- Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- He led the Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements.
- He also chaired the Republican Policy Committee.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
Senate Elections
2014 Special Election
In 2014, Senator Tom Coburn announced he would retire early. James Lankford decided to run for this open Senate seat. He won the Republican primary election in June 2014. In November, he won the special election. He defeated Connie Johnson with almost 68% of the votes. This allowed him to serve the last two years of Coburn's term.
2016 Election
Lankford ran for a full six-year term in the Senate in 2016. He won this election with about 68% of the votes. He defeated Democratic candidate Mike Workman.
2022 Election
On April 6, 2021, Lankford announced he would seek reelection. He was reelected in 2022 with 64% of the votes. In 2023, he became the senior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. This happened after Senator Jim Inhofe retired.
His Time in the Senate
James Lankford was sworn into the Senate on January 6, 2015. Vice President Joe Biden performed the ceremony.
In 2017, he helped introduce the Secure Elections Act. This bill aimed to give money to states. The money would help them update their voting machines.
In 2024, Lankford was a main Republican negotiator for a bill about the U.S. border. The bill aimed to help manage the border. However, many Republicans in the Senate did not support it. The bill was blocked in a vote.
What Committees He Joined
As a Senator, James Lankford serves on several important committees:
- Appropriations Committee
- He is part of several subcommittees here, including Commerce, Justice, Science, and Energy and Water Development.
- Finance Committee
- He serves on subcommittees like Fiscal Responsibility and Health Care.
- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- He leads the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management.
- Indian Affairs Committee
- Select Committee on Ethics
His Political Views
Taxes
Lankford believes in reducing government spending and lowering taxes. He has promised to support no new taxes. He supports getting rid of income and estate taxes. He prefers a sales tax instead. This would tax what people buy, not what they earn or save.
Guns
Lankford has an "A" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. He supports making it easier to buy guns across state lines. He is against a method called firearm microstamping. He also believes veterans should be able to register guns without a license.
After a school shooting in 2018, Lankford said he was open to better background checks for gun purchases. He stated that the problem is the person, not the type of gun.
Defense
Lankford supports continuing the Patriot Act. This law gives the government more power to investigate. He also believes that military bases should be very secure.
Environment
Lankford supports finding more oil and gas in the U.S. He believes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should not control pollution standards. He thinks this slows down economic growth. He also believes that farm waste should not be called a pollutant.
Lankford has said that climate change is a "myth." He has criticized funding for projects that report on climate change in weather forecasts. He called this "propagandizing."
Healthcare
Lankford is against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He has voted to repeal it. He believes that government-funded health insurance is against the U.S. Constitution. He opposes any move towards a federal healthcare system. He supports allowing people to choose their Medicare plans.
Race Relations
In 2020, Lankford spoke about racism. He said it passes from one generation to the next. He encouraged families to invite people of different backgrounds to their homes. He hoped this would build friendships.
In 2021, some leaders in Tulsa asked Lankford to resign from a committee. This was after he questioned the 2020 presidential election results. He later apologized for causing doubt about votes, especially in areas with many Black voters.
2020 Election Views
After the 2020 presidential election, Lankford first said he would help the new president get intelligence briefings. He later changed his mind.
He initially planned to object to some electoral votes. This was part of an effort to overturn the election results. However, he changed his mind after the 2021 United States Capitol attack at the U.S. Capitol. He later apologized for casting doubt on the election results.
Lankford voted to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. He also voted against creating a special commission to investigate the January 6 attack.
Debt Ceiling
Lankford was one of 31 Republican Senators who voted against raising the national debt ceiling in 2023.
Religion
Lankford praised a Supreme Court decision called Groff v. DeJoy. He said it makes it clear that Americans can practice their faith everywhere, including at work.
Personal Life
James Lankford is married to Cindy Lankford. They have two daughters. He attends Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2023
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Official portrait, 2015
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Lankford speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2016
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See also
In Spanish: James Lankford para niños
