Lankford Considered A ‘Do-Something’ Conservative
Front-runner James Lankford a ‘do-something’ conservative
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
James Lankford is not a big-government type of guy. In fact, some of the things he says he’d like to do with the federal budget might make some fellow Republicans queasy.
But the 5th District representative and most likely successor to retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn is not a no-government type, either. If, as many expect, Republicans win control of the Senate in November, Lankford says they will have to do more than complain about President Barack Obama.
“We have a responsibility to govern,” he said. “Some people say they actually prefer to be part of a loud, vocal minority. I don’t agree with that. When you’re in the majority, you have to lead and govern. If you’re not making decisions, you’re not fulfilling your mandate.”
Lankford is a heavy favorite to defeat Democratic state Sen. Connie Johnson and independent Mark Beard in the Nov. 4 special election to complete the final two years of Coburn’s term. The winner will be able to run for re-election in 2016.