Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe confirmed Friday his plans to retire and backed his top aide to succeed him.
Inhofe, 87, was first elected to the Senate in 1994 and took office the same year. His departure will lead to a rare open Senate seat in the Sooner State and will prompt a special election with what is likely to be a crowded Republican primary.
In a statement, Inhofe said, “It is bittersweet, but with a clear heart, that Kay and I announce that at the end of the year, I will retire from the United States Senate.”
It is bittersweet, but with a clear heart, that Kay and I announce that at the end of the year, I will retire from the United States Senate.
My full statement below. pic.twitter.com/nEDbmJJjEQ
— Sen. Jim Inhofe (@JimInhofe) February 25, 2022
In an interview with the Oklahoman prior to his announcement, Inhofe said he had been considering retirement for some time and that he and his wife “have decided that we need to have time together.”
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“I didn’t make a solid decision until two or three weeks ago,” he said. “There has to be one day where you say, ‘All right, this is going to be it.’”
Inhofe added he is “absolutely” at peace with the decision.
Inhofe endorsed his chief of staff, Luke Holland, to replace him in the upper chamber, adding he would campaign for Holland before the Republican primary on June 28.
Holland had already launched a campaign website as of Friday morning.
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“As a fourth generation Oklahoman, I know America is the greatest country in the world,” Holland said in a statement. “It’s a gift from God, and that’s why we must do everything we can to stop the march toward socialism, stand up to China, and get President Trump’s agenda back on track.”
Other candidates in the primary may include Reps. Kevin Hern and Markwayne Mullin, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, and T.W. Shannon, a former speaker of the state House who lost a primary race against Oklahoma’s other senator, James Lankford, in 2014.
