Former Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, a Republican who served as the state’s longest-serving senator from 1994 to 2023, died peacefully on Tuesday at the age of 89.
Inhofe passed away surrounded by his wife Kay, his children, and other family members, according to a former senior aide who confirmed the news to Fox News. The aide revealed that Inhofe had experienced a sudden and unexpected illness around the Fourth of July holiday. Further details regarding his illness were not immediately available.
Inhofe’s political career began in 1987 when he was elected to the House of Representatives in Washington. He transitioned to the Senate in 1994 and eventually became the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Before entering the national political arena, Inhofe served as the mayor of his hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 1978 to 1984.
The Oklahoma Historical Society noted that Inhofe served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1956 and was president of the Quaker Life Insurance Company prior to his political career.
Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., described Inhofe as a “dear friend and mentor, a titan in Oklahoma, and a highly effective leader in D.C.” In a statement, Hern expressed condolences to the Inhofe family, stating, “Tammy and I are keeping Kay and the rest of the Inhofe family in our prayers. Jim spent his life in service to his country, both in uniform and in the halls of Congress. He will always be remembered as a fighter, especially for our military service members.”
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as they become available.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram and Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.
