Longtime House Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., secured his place in the November general election after winning his Tuesday night primary, putting him on track for his 12th term in the House of Representatives. Cole, who currently chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, faced a crowded GOP field led by challenger Paul Bondar, a political outsider and businessman who poured millions of his own dollars into the race.
The senior Republican has represented Oklahoma’s 3rd congressional district since January 2003. The district encompasses part of Oklahoma City and the city of Norman.
Cole, despite his deep ties to Oklahoma GOP politics, has faced challenges from the right due to his reputation for working across the aisle. Bondar positioned himself as a more conservative alternative, criticizing Cole for his willingness to collaborate with Democrats on issues like government funding and Ukraine aid. Cole’s campaign, in turn, painted Bondar as a carpetbagger attempting to buy the election.
Cole entered the election with an endorsement from former President Trump, who won the district by a significant margin in 2020.
“Tom Cole is a fantastic Representative for Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District. As Chairman of the POWERFUL Appropriations Committee, Tom is fighting hard to Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Vets, Support our Great Law Enforcement, and Protect our always-under-siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in May. “He has almost always voted with me, including on both Impeachment Hoaxes. Tom Cole has my Complete and Total Endorsement – He will not let you down!”
Cole is also a strong supporter of House GOP leadership and has a history of working closely with them. He previously led the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans’ campaign arm, and served as the top Republican on the House Rules Committee before taking the helm of the Appropriations Committee.
Other Republican candidates who vied to unseat Cole on Tuesday night included Nick Hankins, Rick Harris, and Andrew Hayes.
