Longtime House Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., secured victory in his primary on Tuesday night, positioning himself for a potential 12th term in the House of Representatives come November. Cole, who currently chairs the influential House Appropriations Committee, faced stiff competition from political outsider and businessman Paul Bondar in the crowded GOP field.
Representing Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district since 2003, Cole's stronghold includes parts of Oklahoma City and Norman. Despite his strong ties to Oklahoma GOP politics, Cole faced challenges from the right due to his reputation for bipartisan collaboration.
Bondar positioned himself as a more conservative alternative to Cole, criticizing the incumbent for his willingness to cooperate with Democrats on issues such as government funding and Ukraine aid. In response, Cole's campaign portrayed Bondar as an outsider attempting to buy his way into office.
Adding to his advantage, Cole received an endorsement from former President Trump, who carried the district by a significant margin in 2020. Trump praised Cole's efforts in areas such as border security, military support, law enforcement, and Second Amendment protection, highlighting their alignment on key votes, including impeachment proceedings.
Aside from Trump's support, Cole has been a loyal ally of House GOP leadership, having previously led the National Republican Congressional Committee and served as the top Republican on the House Rules Committee before assuming his current role as Appropriations Committee chair.
