Retired Republican Senator Dead at 89

James Mountain Inhofe is a name that is very familiar within the Republican Party.

Inhofe entered the local political scene in 1966 and retired as a United States Senator in 2023.

Sadly, he passed away at the age of 89.

Legendary Political Figure Gone

Not many details were given regarding his death, but his family did state that he had passed away with his wife, children, and other family members there to comfort him.

Inhofe had no major medical issues, but then he reportedly came down with an illness over the holiday weekend, and less than a week later, he died.

Inhofe is an Army veteran who first entered politics in the Oklahoma legislature in 1966.

He was elevated to a Senate seat in 1969, and then elected as the Mayor of Tulsa in 1978.

After his term, he ran for and won a seat in Congress in 1987.

In 1994, Inhofe won his Senate seat, which he held until his retirement in 2023.

During that time, he became one of the more powerful Republicans in office, serving as the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee, and later the Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Needless to say, tributes were made the moment his death was announced.

Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) stated, "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."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), added, “Jim’s diligent stewardship of massive infrastructure projects transformed life across the Heartland.

“His relentless advocacy for American energy dominance unlocked new prosperity across the country. And his laser focus on growing and modernizing the U.S. military strengthened the security of the entire free world.”

Rest in peace, sir, and thank you for your service.