Former Oklahoma Senator Inhofe Passes at 89

Facts

• Former US Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) passed away Tuesday at age 89.¹
• A family statement Tuesday said Inhofe suffered a stroke on July 4. The long-time senator 'passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife Kay, and his three surviving children,' it said.²
• Inhofe began his political career when he was elected to the state House in 1966. He won a seat in the Oklahoma Senate in 1968 and remained in that position while losing runs for governor in 1974 and the US House in 1976.³
• He was eventually elected to the US House in 1987 before being elected to the US Senate in 1994. He won five terms and became Oklahoma’s longest-serving senator. He also served once as the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.⁴
• Inhofe received national attention for his outspoken stance on climate change. In 2015, he famously brought a snowball to the Senate floor as part of an attempt to argue against climate change.⁵

Sources: ¹CNN, ²ABC News, ³NBC, ⁴FOX News and ⁵Associated Press.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Politico. Inhofe leaves behind a complex legacy that will be celebrated by conservatives. But his stance on embracing climate change denial will also be remembered. Through his public service, Inhofe was an architect and an ardent supporter of many policies that have damaged the environment.
• Right narrative, as provided by Red State. Inhofe was an ideal public servant, who spent six decades fighting for Oklahoma. Inhofe should be celebrated for his accomplishments and service as a representative, veteran, and family man. Left-leaning voices should not be denigrating his legacy.