Summary
GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, is seeking a fifth term. Abby Broyles, Journalist and attorney, will be running against Inhofe in the November elections.
We rate the race for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma as Solid Republican.
Politico 4/19/20
OnAir Post: Oklahoma – US Senate 2020 Election
News
We’re continuing our election previews with a look at the race to become one of Oklahoma’s Senators.
Incumbent Jim Inhofe is being challenged by Abby Broyles. 7NEWS asked both candidates why they are running for this position.
“I saw firsthand how out of touch Senator Inhofe is with everyday Oklahomans. There was a story we were covering actually at Tinker Air Force Base with military families who were dealing with mold and asbestos at on-base housing. They called and emailed his office and didn’t get a response at all so they started calling the news stations and we started telling their stories. Around this time last year, he held a press conference after ignoring them for so long and he told these families how nice he thought their housing was and if it was this nice when he was in the Army, he would have stayed longer. It just again showed me how disconnected he is with the people of Oklahoma,” Broyles said.
At 85 years old, incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe is seeking what could be his last waltz in politics, a fresh six-year term in the U.S. Senate that would let him craft policy for the federal government through his 91st birthday.
He made the decision to run for his fifth six-year term in January. The moment of clarity came after taking stock of the political landscape. He wants President Donald Trump to stay in the White House and the Senate to stay in the hands of Republicans.
“I’m older now than I was,” Inhofe said when asked what’s different this time about his decision to run for re-election.
Republican incumbent Jim Inhofe and Democratic challenger Abby Broyles agree on very little, but judging from the TV advertisements each began airing this week, they are simpatico on one thing.
This year’s U.S. Senate race is about Inhofe.
Inhofe’s 60-second spot features a soft gospel music track while a male narrator warns viewers that the “soul of our nation” is threatened by “Socialists. Liberals. Progressives. They’re not called Oklahomans.
Broyles’ 30-second spot is also all about Inhofe, but in a different way. It opens with video of Inhofe saying “I was not at the meeting” and proceeds to tell voters the 85-year-old incumbent is no longer up to the job.
News 9, – September 10, 2020
Meanwhile, in the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Senator Jim Inhofe leads democratic candidate Abby Broyles 57 to 33 percent.
The current Senator’s favorability remains high, 57 percent of responders say they approve of him.
Broyles’s approval rating sits at 36 percent. 39 percent of the responders say they don’t know enough about her.
Jim Inhofe
Current Position:Â US Senator since 1995
Affiliation:Â Republican
Candidate:Â 2020 US Senator
Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) serves as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sen. Inhofe is a proud Oklahoman and long-time resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
While our country is in the most threatened position in American history, Sen. Inhofe remains committed to rebuilding our military from the readiness crisis and addressing the growing threats from our enemies. As the Chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, he plays a key role in ensuring that our military has the best equipment, training and resources necessary to meet our nation’s diverse security challenges.
Widely regarded by his peers and military leadership as a long time and staunch supporter of our men and women in uniform, he believes that protecting our country is the first function of the federal government, as dictated by the United States Constitution.
For more information, see this Jim Inhofe post.
Abby Broyles
Current Position:Â Journalist and attorney
Affiliation:Â Democrat
Candidate:Â 2020 US Senator
Abby is a lifelong Oklahoman. Originally from Bethany, Abby grew up watching Katie Couric and knew she wanted to be a journalist—because behind every headline, there’s a family’s story that needs to be told. An award-winning investigative journalist and attorney, Abby is used to fighting to ensure people’s voices are heard.
Now, Abby is running for the United States Senate to bring change to Washington. She’ll work with anyone—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents—if they are willing to make a better life for Oklahoma families.
For more information, see this Abby Broyles post.
Issues
Economy
Jim InhofeÂ
Agriculture
Oklahoma’s farming and ranching communities are an important part of our economy. As an advocate for Oklahoma’s agriculture production, I know how important producing food is to our national security and prosperity. I continue to support the communities of rural Oklahoma to enact policies that protect the family farm and keep the American food supply safe, reliable and affordable.
In addition to supporting the Farm Bill, I have worked to protect our agricultural communities from President Obama’s flawed WOTUS rule that could have designated everything in Western Oklahoma as a wetland. I authored legislation to ensure young people have the opportunity to pursue a career in agriculture by removing barriers to entry for the next generation of America’s farmers and ranchers.
I also worked to increase support for agricultural communities after they face a natural disaster. Whether it is wildfires, flooding, tornadoes or other severe weather, when a disaster affects farmers, they need to get resources quickly. I authored legislation that cuts bureaucratic red tape to ensure that USDA can get relief to farmers and ranchers as soon as possible and allows grazing on CRP lands after a wildfire.
Taxation
I have been a long-time advocate for lower tax rates that will foster economic growth, allow families to keep more of their hard-earned money and make it easier for Oklahoma’s businesses to grow and hire more hard-working people. Last Congress, we passed the first comprehensive tax reform legislation in three decades that enacted my priorities into law.
The historic tax reform cut taxes for the typical American family by an average of $2,000 each year. It also unlocks the economic potential of the United States economy by lowering taxes on businesses—especially small businesses. Additionally it recognizes the important role of key industries in Oklahoma that create jobs and invest in our state, such as the oil and gas industry, by protecting percentage depletion and intangible drilling cost provisions.
Because of historic tax reform, Congress has made doing business in the United States competitive again, so companies are no longer encouraged to move American jobs overseas. President Trump is already growing the economy by cutting regulations—this tax cut will only do more to drive the engine of the American economy to new heights and benefit hardworking families.
Abby BroylesÂ
Washington politicians treat rural Oklahoma and Oklahoma farmers as an afterthought. Abby will stand up for our farmers.
Oklahoma is known for our history of oil and gas, but Oklahomans know our economy is driven by agriculture—cattle and calves, hogs, broilers, wheat, and dairy are essential. But, for too long, Washington politicians have treated rural Oklahoma and Oklahoma farmers as an afterthought.
Abby will work to reverse Jim Inhofe’s support of farm policies that have led to disastrous consequences: the approximately $1,000 annual burden faced by consumers because of tariffs caused by the trade war with China; the 580 Chapter 12 bankruptcies filed between September 2018 and September 2019—an increase of 42%; and the projected $12.24 billion decrease in agricultural exports to China from 2016 to 2019—a loss of 69.6%.
Jim Inhofe is bankrolled by corporate farming and Big Ag—he’s not looking out for the interests of our Oklahoma family farms. Abby will stand up for our farmers by acknowledging farm debt as an immediate threat to our national security. We cannot sustain a farm debt of $427 billion—a level we haven’t seen since the 1980s.
Oklahoma’s family farms have become collateral damage in a trade war supported by Jim Inhofe that started to help manufacturers and other companies they believe have been hurt by China’s “unfair” trade practices. Abby will put the Oklahomans with soil under their fingertips first and end this absurd practice of telling them to continue suffering because it’s going to be great in the end.
Education
Jim InhofeÂ
Education
Parents, teachers, administrators and locally-elected school boards are best equipped to make decisions about educating Oklahoma students—not the federal government. I’m working to shift more decisions and authority away from the federal, “one-size-fits-all” policies and sending it back to the state and local governments.
To support education in our local communities, I’m focused on ensuring our students are educated about our nation’s founding principles and civics – to protect our values and democracy in the long run.
I’m also committed to improving our career and technical education systems to support workforce development efforts. I’ve authored language to expand access to career-tech programs for students from all backgrounds and interests, including veterans and high-school graduates interested in aviation.
Lastly, as a state with five military installations, Oklahoma especially values Impact Aid, the program that reimburses school districts for lost tax revenue from federal property or military installations. Impact Aid can be used for a wide variety of educational needs and does not include any overbearing strings or limitations. Many schools in Oklahoma rely on Impact Aid, and I am proud to lead the effort every year to ensure it is fully resourced.
Abby Broyles
N/A
Environment
Jim InhofeÂ
Energy & Environment
As the former Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have been focused on cutting regulations that limit an “all of the above” energy policy and have worked to increase domestic energy production and achieve energy dominance. We’re well on our way—since the election of President Trump, we’ve become the global leader in oil and natural gas production and have dramatically increased our exports of crude oil, coal, and liquefied natural gas.
America’s energy supply should be stable, diverse and affordable. We must continue to work to increase exploration and production of natural gas and oil, continuing the development and use of coal, along with the development of renewable sources of energy and further develop nuclear energy.
Working with President Trump, we have won the latest battle on fossil fuels, but the war is still being waged. I will continue to defend an industry that employs millions of Americans, provides more than a trillion dollars to our economy and allows Oklahomans to heat our homes, get work and cook our meals.
In the past year, I’ve been on the front lines of leading the expansion of our domestic resources, including opening a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to energy exploration. I have also focused on infrastructure permitting reform. Red tape and improperly used review processes have hindered our ability to best access and use our existing energy sources—forcing cities in the Northeast United States, like Boston, to import LNG from Russia, rather than domestically.
Abby BroylesÂ
It’s time to direct our efforts toward concrete steps to reverse climate change, while also protecting our jobs and our way of life.
Whether you live in suburban Tulsa or Oklahoma City or in rural towns like Watonga, Miami, or Newkirk, all it takes is one late afternoon day in May to understand the impact of climate change on our daily lives. Whether you’re paying a higher insurance premium due to storm damage or replacing a roof because yours was torn off by a tornado, we know climate change is real and should be addressed.
Unfortunately, Jim Inhofe continues to be the lone holdout, making him the embarrassment of the Senate. Taking a snowball in to the chamber to prove that it is cold outside and therefore climate change can’t possibly be real—it’s a headline one would expect to see from The Onion, not C-SPAN. The year Jim Inhofe pulled this stunt, 2015, was the hottest year ever recorded—until we broke that record again the very next year.
Additionally, when thousands of Oklahomans were dealing with damage to their homes and businesses from repeated flooding in and around Grand Lake, Jim Inhofe used his power in Washington to quietly introduce legislation preventing Oklahomans from getting the relief they need—and kept the water levels high for boating at his lake house just upstream.
After decades in Washington, Jim Inhofe has grown so comfortable that he doesn’t bat an eye at advancing his own personal agenda over that of his constituents.
Abby believes we should direct our efforts toward concrete steps to reverse climate change while at the same time protecting our jobs and our way of life. These steps include increasing the ability to use electric vehicles by investing in more EV charging stations which could remove 11 gigatons of carbon dioxide by 2050, promoting smart thermostats and LED lighting for homes and offices to reduce greenhouse gases, and encouraging landscape designers to not skimp and instead plant coverage on unusable land to reduce atmospheric CO2.
Health Care
Jim InhofeÂ
Health Care
I’ve long believed that health care decisions should be between a patient and their doctor—not government bureaucrats. For too long, the Obama administration tried to insert themselves into families’ medical and health care decisions. We saw the results: skyrocketing costs and fewer options for care, especially in rural communities.
As a member of the U.S. Senate Rural Healthcare Caucus, I am committed to finding solutions to improving accessibility to quality care for those in rural parts of Oklahoma and our country. While health reform is needed to provide quality medical care and stem the ever growing cost of health care, government takeovers are never the answer.
I’m proud that we repealed the individual mandate of Obamacare, and supported the patient-centered Republican efforts to replace Obamacare—voting for efforts that would have provided relief to Oklahomans struggling with increasing premiums. While disappointed that the effort of a broad repeal came up short, I am committed to repealing and replacing it in its entirety.
Abby Broyles
Abby will work to give everyone access to an affordable and comprehensive option and to protect Oklahomans with pre-existing conditions.
For many in Oklahoma, healthcare is a pocketbook issue, with numerous families facing the unaffordable cost of monthly premiums, the burden of high deductibles, and the challenges in accessing quality care. Abby understands that most Oklahomans know that something is wrong with our healthcare system, and she shares the skepticism that more government is the answer.
Abby believes that every Oklahoman should have access to quality, affordable care, regardless of their circumstances. Common sense measures like SQ 802 here in Oklahoma, which would expand Medicaid to people who simply can’t afford health care are a step in the right direction. SQ 802 would help people who make just over $21,000 per year for a single person or just over $34,000 for a family of four. Right now, their options are to either pay for health care or put food on the table for their families.
Abby supports the expansion of Medicaid so that everyone has access to an affordable and comprehensive option.
Even for those with coverage, seeking care can be difficult, particularly if you’re located in rural America. Both for-profit and nonprofit hospitals are consolidating at higher rates, and many rural hospitals have closed. In Oklahoma, we know that when a rural hospital closes, it doesn’t just make it harder for the community to access health care—it makes it harder for the community, period. Hospitals are often the lifeblood of a small town, offering employment and driving the local economy. When a rural hospital closes, the school might be next.
Better access to health care through Medicaid expansion will reduce the burden of uncovered care for our rural hospitals, but Abby isn’t going to stop there. She will fight for increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers in rural areas and for the expansion of existing incentive programs to attract and encourage health care professionals to work in rural communities.
See post for more info.
Immigration
Jim InhofeÂ
Immigration
I was a builder and developer in south Texas for 20 years and know the situation we face at the border. After visiting it regularly for the last five years, I know the situation is getting worse. That’s why I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump – we need to build a wall to secure our southern border. I’ve introduced the WALL Act, the only legislation to fully pay for the construction of the wall by closing loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to receive federal benefits and increasing minimum fines on illegal border crossers.
Building the wall and securing the border are key – but we also need to address additional loopholes and flaws in our immigration system. I introduced the Asylum Abuse Reduction Act that, among other provisions, would require migrants to declare asylum at our embassies and consulates in Mexico or Canada before entering into the United States to end the practice of “catch and release.” President Trump has enacted much of my legislation through executive order.
As we discuss legislation to reform our immigration system, I have long held that three key principles should be part of any reform: immigration solutions cannot grant amnesty, shortcut the naturalization process or ignore our nation’s laws by rewarding illegal activity. I will hold true to these conservative principles when considering any legislation before the Senate.
Abby BroylesÂ
N/A
Infrastructure
Jim InhofeÂ
Transportation
One of the inherent roles of government is to provide for a safe and suitable infrastructure to allow our nation access to transportation and fully connect our national economy. In addition to providing for the national defense, I believe the single greatest service we can provide our citizens is the necessary infrastructure to enable the United States to remain the economic engine that drives the world’s economy.
As the past Chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have worked to pass highway bills and water resources acts which have been historic for the nation and provided victories for Oklahoma. These bills have used our resources in a fiscally responsible manner and eliminated federal red tape to allow for more state and local control and for new construction and modernization of our nation’s crumbling bridges, roads and infrastructure.
Additionally, as an active aviator for over forty years, I’ve seen firsthand how important our aviation infrastructure is for continued economic growth in Oklahoma. I am committed to helping the general and commercial aviation industries in Oklahoma. I will also work to make sure that our existing commercial airports get the resources they need to fulfill increased security requirements.
Abby BroylesÂ
N/A
Safety
Jim InhofeÂ
N/A
Abby BroylesÂ
Jim Inhofe will try to pit the safety of our families against our Second Amendment rights. Abby knows it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Parents should be able to send their child to school each morning and not worry about whether their child comes home safe later in the day. This is a simple and guiding principle when having a real discussion about gun safety.
Jim Inhofe will try to pit the safety of our families against our Second Amendment rights. Abby will work to demonstrate it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Abby believes gun ownership is both an individual right and a constitutional right, and any attempt to distort that belief is false. It is our responsibility—our duty—to have a conversation about responsible use, because another senseless death is one too many.
Abby supports enhancing universal background checks to help ensure those who shouldn’t have guns can’t get them. She will, at the same time, work to promote access to mental health services and expand protections for survivors of domestic abuse to prevent crises before they happen.
And to be clear, Abby opposes any steps that may approach confiscation and will never support “taking your guns away.”
Criminal Justice System Reform
Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the world. We’ve poured our money into a failing system for too long.
Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Both the Oklahoma City and Tulsa County Jails have multiple issues that are concerning, and 20 percent of inmates are housed in private for-profit prisons. In our state and the rest of the country, we’ve created a system that is too expensive and ineffective to maintain. In Oklahoma in particular, we’re consuming taxpayer dollars at an alarming rate—and, critically, not seeing returns when it comes to public safety or inmate rehabilitation. As an attorney who’s worked on both sides of a criminal case, Abby has seen this firsthand.
See post for more info.
Veterans
Jim InhofeÂ
Veterans
There is no adequate compensation for the sacrifices our nation’s veterans have so bravely made on behalf of the United States. As the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and as an Army veteran, I am committed to standing up for all of our nation’s veterans and ensuring that we honor each of them with the proper care and support.
As a tireless advocate for our veterans, it is critically important to me that Oklahoma set the benchmark for the rest of the country in how we treat our veterans – and we’re doing exactly that. In just the last few years, I’ve enacted legislation to do everything from allow independent, third-party inspectors at VA hospitals to pushing all veterans care facilities to strive for higher rankings. I’ve also worked with President Trump to reform the VA and increase accountability—giving VA directors the ability to fire poorly performing employees and strengthening whistleblower protections. I am committed to a culture of continuous improvement at the VA.
For over 18 years, I have led a task force of veterans to stay apprised of the issues facing veterans in Oklahoma and across the country. These monthly meetings have resulted in legislation to increase education benefits, establish state of the art medical treatment facilities, and increase health care benefits and pension plans that enable our nation’s bravest men and women to have the ability to transition out of military service with world-class support. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump to provide America’s soldiers and veterans the best possible care we can.
Abby BroylesÂ
Taking Care of Our Service Members
Abby will fight to keep our military bases fully funded and to guarantee the safety and protection of the United States.
Members of the American military make tremendous sacrifices each and every day to protect our lives and liberty. We owe them a debt too big to repay.
In the past, Congress has balanced their budget by shortchanging our service members. Reduced pay raises and cuts to benefits are not only disrespectful but also unsustainable. Abby will work to ensure that we as a nation invest in our service members and their families. She will fight to keep our military bases fully funded and to guarantee the safety and protection of the United States.
