Cole: Lankford An ‘Honest Broker’ In Congress
Low-key Lankford says volume control his secret to success
By Russell Berman, The Hill
For Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.), the conservative cause isn’t about volume.
There are far louder and more colorful characters in the majority-making House Republican class of 2010, but few have risen up the ranks as quickly as the longtime Christian camp director from Oklahoma.
Now, the sophomore congressman is eyeing a move across the Capitol to the Senate corridors, where he’s a leading contender to succeed Sen. Tom Coburn (R), who announced last week he would leave office two years before the end of his term.
With a direct but low-key style, Lankford has ingratiated himself both with senior leaders and the restive rank and file of the Republican conference, winning a seat at the leadership table — as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee — after just a single term.
Over the last year, Lankford has served as a go-between in the House, giving the often unruly right flank of the conference a voice at the top while staying close to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and his team.
“He’s the guy that everybody trusts. Inside the class [of 2010], he’s kind of an honest broker,” said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), another leadership ally who passed on the Senate race.