Sen. Inhofe Makes It Official, He’s Retiring at the End of the Year

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., made what had been a badly kept secret official on Friday — he’s retiring at the end of the year.

Because his announcement came before March 1, a special election for the pending vacancy will be on the November ballot.

Inhofe’s retirement after 28 years in the Senate and an additional seven years in the House had been speculated about for days after associates tipped reporters that an announcement was coming, but he was still making up his mind.

His decision looked more firm by late Thursday, when his chief of staff, Luke Holland, began positioning himself to replace his boss by establishing a campaign website.

Others considered likely to jump into the race include Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell.

In a Twitter post Friday afternoon, Inhofe said his decision was “bittersweet.”

“Going into public service was never in my plan,” he said in a written statement. 

For years, Inhofe said, he and his wife, Kay, were focused on raising their family and building a business together. 

“Then, one day, I needed a dock permit. I had to vist 27 government offices to get a single dock permit, and I realized if we wanted the government to work for the people, not against the people, it was up to us to make a change,” he said.

“Still, when our journey of service to Oklahoma started with my first political campaign in 1967, we never expected that the road the Lord would lead us down would take us from the Oklahoma Legislature to being mayor of Tulsa, to the House of Representatives, and, finally, to the United States Senate, where I was privileged to lead the committees that best serve Oklahomans.”

Inhofe serves as the top Republican, or the ranking member, of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is also a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Small Business Committee.

“Throughout our years there has been one constant, making the world safer and better for our 20 kids and grandkids, and the next generation of Oklahomans. It is now time for that next generation of Oklahomans to have the opportunity to serve the state in the U.S. Senate,” Inhofe said.

Though the 87-year-old senator was reelected to another six-year term by a comfortable margin in 2020, in recent months he’s been focusing increasingly on the well-being of his wife, who has reportedly been ill.

After Inhofe made his intentions official, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., issued a statement in which he said, “For the past 35 years, my friend Jim Inhofe has been one of his fellow Oklahomans’ fiercest advocates here in Washington. 

“As a sportsman, a small business owner and a former mayor, he brought a keen understanding of the challenges facing his neighbors. And from improving transportation infrastructure to harnessing abundant American energy, the fruits of Jim’s labors are recognizable across Oklahoma and across the country,” McConnell said.

“But Jim’s legacy of consequential public service extends even beyond our borders. As a longtime member and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, his advocacy for his fellow veterans and for the men and women serving today in uniform has helped make America safer and our power more respected around the world,” he continued.

“Jim’s leadership helped stand up [the] U.S. Africa Command and has streamlined the procurement process for military technologies. And his commitment to rock-solid conservative principles has helped improve accountability and efficiency at the Department of Defense on behalf of American taxpayers.

“At every step of his decorated career, Jim has been quick to credit the love and support of his wife, Kay, and their 20 children and grandchildren. I know the Inhofes will be glad to have more time with their consummate family man. And while the Senate will miss one of its foremost experts on defense policy, I am glad our friend will continue to serve with us through the end of this Congress,” McConnell concluded.

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