Former Senator Jim Inhofe, Notable Conservative, Dies at 89

Former U.S. Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma has died at the age of 89. Inhofe had a lengthy political career, beginning as mayor of Tulsa before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1994. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994, where he served until his retirement in 2023, making him the longest-serving senator from Oklahoma. Inhofe was a prominent Republican known for his conservative stances, including skepticism of climate change and strong support for military spending.

During his time in Congress, Inhofe chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He was a vocal opponent of environmental regulations, famously calling climate change a "hoax." Despite his controversial views on climate science, he maintained close relationships with colleagues across the aisle. Inhofe retired due to health issues related to long-term effects of COVID-19. His career was marked by his advocacy for American defense and his tenure as one of the leading figures on the ideological right in the U.S. Congress.