James Lankford

James Lankford
Official portrait, 2023
James Lankford
Born	James Paul Lankford 4 3, 1968
Birthplace	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, minister
Title	United States Senator from Oklahoma
Known for	Senior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma
Education	Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.)
Awards	Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee
Website	[Official Senate website Official site]

James Paul Lankford (born March 4, 1968) is an American politician and ordained Southern Baptist minister serving as the senior United States senator from Oklahoma, a position he has held since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Lankford represented Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015 before moving to the upper chamber. Before entering politics, Lankford spent more than a decade in Baptist youth ministry, serving as president of the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, one of the largest Christian youth camps in the United States, from 1996 to 2009. He won election to the Senate in a 2014 special election to fill the seat of retiring Senator Tom Coburn and was subsequently reelected in 2016 and 2022. As of 2025, Lankford serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference under John Thune and as Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee.

Early Life

James Paul Lankford was born on March 4, 1968, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas area and was raised in a family with ties to the Southern Baptist tradition. Lankford's path toward public service was shaped in part by his deep involvement in Christian ministry from a young age, which would later become the defining feature of his pre-political career.

Before entering politics, Lankford devoted a significant portion of his adult life to Baptist youth ministry in Oklahoma. In 1996, he became president of the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, a large youth camp operated by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma near Davis, Oklahoma. Falls Creek is one of the largest Christian youth camps in the United States, hosting tens of thousands of young people each summer for programs focused on religious education and fellowship. Lankford served as the camp's director for thirteen years, from 1996 until 2009, a tenure during which he became a recognized figure within Oklahoma's Baptist community. He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister.

His years at Falls Creek provided Lankford with organizational leadership experience and a network of relationships throughout Oklahoma's faith community that would later prove instrumental in his political career. The transition from ministry to politics, while representing a significant career shift, was rooted in many of the same concerns about family, values, and community that had guided his ministerial work.

Education

Lankford attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He subsequently pursued graduate theological education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. His seminary training prepared him for the ordained ministry and his subsequent work in Baptist youth programming at Falls Creek.

Career

Ministry

From 1996 to 2009, Lankford served as president of the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, a position that placed him at the helm of one of Oklahoma's most prominent religious institutions. The camp, located in the Arbuckle Mountains near Davis, Oklahoma, has operated for over a century and serves as a major gathering point for Baptist youth from across the state. Under Lankford's leadership, the center continued its mission of providing summer programming for young people through the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Lankford's tenure at Falls Creek gave him substantial experience in organizational management, public speaking, and community engagement. His role required him to interact with church leaders, families, and young people across the state, building a broad base of familiarity and support that would become an asset in his later political campaigns.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2015)

In 2010, Lankford entered electoral politics for the first time, running for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat had been held by Mary Fallin, who vacated it to run for Governor of Oklahoma. Lankford won the Republican primary and went on to win the general election, entering Congress in January 2011.

Oklahoma's 5th congressional district encompasses the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, and Lankford's campaign drew on his name recognition within the state's large Baptist community as well as his conservative platform. As a political newcomer, his background in ministry and youth leadership differentiated him from more conventional political candidates.

Lankford was reelected to the House in 2012. During his time in the House, he rose quickly within the Republican leadership structure. In January 2013, he was elected Chair of the Republican Policy Committee, succeeding Tom Price in the role. The position, which he held until January 2015, placed him in the fifth-ranking position within the House Republican leadership under Speaker John Boehner. As Policy Committee chair, Lankford was responsible for helping shape the party's policy agenda and communicating Republican positions to members and the public.

During his House tenure, Lankford served on several committees and participated in various caucuses. He established a voting record consistent with conservative Republican positions on fiscal, social, and national security issues.

U.S. Senate (2015–present)

2014 Special Election

In 2014, Senator Tom Coburn announced he would resign his seat before the end of his term, creating the opportunity for a special election. Lankford entered the race and won the Republican primary, followed by a general election victory. He took office on January 3, 2015, succeeding Coburn as the junior senator from Oklahoma.

Reelection

Lankford was reelected to the Senate in 2016, winning a full six-year term. He was reelected again in 2022, continuing his service as Oklahoma's senior senator. Following the retirement of Jim Inhofe and the election of Markwayne Mullin to fill Inhofe's seat, Lankford became the senior senator from Oklahoma, serving alongside Mullin.

Senate Leadership and Committee Roles

Throughout his Senate tenure, Lankford has held several leadership and committee positions within the Republican Conference. He served as Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee from December 19, 2019, to February 3, 2021, succeeding Johnny Isakson. Following the change in Senate majority in 2021, Lankford transitioned to the role of Vice Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, serving from February 3, 2021, to January 3, 2025, with Chris Coons serving as chair during that period.

In January 2025, Lankford was elected Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference under the leadership of Senator John Thune, succeeding Shelley Moore Capito in the role. He also resumed the chairmanship of the Senate Ethics Committee at the start of the 119th Congress in January 2025.

Lankford has been identified as a co-chair of the Senate Values Action Team, a role reflecting his focus on social and cultural policy issues rooted in his background as a Baptist minister.

Legislative Priorities and Policy Positions

Lankford has focused on several areas of policy during his Senate career. He has been active on fiscal policy, government accountability, and regulatory reform. As a consistent advocate for conservative fiscal positions, Lankford has pushed for reduced federal spending and government transparency initiatives.

In February 2026, Lankford traveled across Oklahoma to promote the Working Families Tax Cut Act, meeting with working families to discuss the legislation's potential impact. During these visits, he highlighted provisions of the bill aimed at reducing the tax burden on families.

On immigration, Lankford has been a prominent voice within the Republican caucus. In February 2026, he announced plans to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, reflecting his continued engagement with immigration enforcement policy.

Lankford has also been involved in social policy issues, including legislation related to abortion restrictions. In February 2026, he co-led an amicus brief alongside Senators Bill Cassidy and others seeking to restore regulatory safeguards on abortion drugs.

On foreign affairs, Lankford has urged Oklahomans traveling in Mexico to heed guidance from the State Department and local authorities following instances of violence in the country.

Lankford has maintained a regular presence in Oklahoma, engaging with constituents, business leaders, and civic organizations. In February 2026, he spoke at the Tulsa Regional Chamber's Congressional Forum, discussing federal priorities. He also met with community leaders in Lawton, Oklahoma, including members of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, to discuss key issues impacting the region, including matters related to Fort Sill.

Bipartisan Engagement

While Lankford has maintained a conservative voting record, he has engaged in bipartisan efforts on selected issues. In February 2026, he joined with Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and several House members to recognize the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, co-sponsoring a bipartisan resolution honoring the organization's contributions to communities across the United States.

Personal Life

James Lankford resides in Oklahoma with his wife, Cindy. The couple has two daughters. Lankford remains active in his faith as an ordained Southern Baptist minister, and his religious convictions have been a public and consistent element of his political identity.

Lankford's background in youth ministry at Falls Creek, where he worked closely with young people and families for over a decade, has informed his approach to family-oriented policy issues in the Senate. He has frequently referenced his faith and ministerial experience in public remarks and policy discussions.

Recognition

Lankford's rise within the Republican Party has been marked by several leadership positions. In the House, he served as Chair of the Republican Policy Committee, the fifth-ranking position in the House Republican leadership, from 2013 to 2015. In the Senate, he has served in multiple leadership capacities, including Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee and, as of 2025, Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference.

His career trajectory — from Baptist youth camp director to senior U.S. senator — has been noted in media coverage as an unusual path to high political office. His initial 2010 campaign for the House attracted attention in Baptist media as an example of a minister entering the political arena.

Lankford's appearances and testimony have been carried by C-SPAN throughout his congressional career, documenting his participation in floor debates, committee hearings, and public events.