Inhofe retirement to set off intense jockeying in Oklahoma
By Tal Axelrod - 02/26/22 01:46 PM EST
Sen. James Inhofe's (R-Okla.) announcement Friday that he will retire early next year is expected to trigger a crowded special election primary for an open Senate seat in a state where one rarely comes along.
Two candidates have already jumped into the race since the announcement, and others are expected to leap at the opportunity, with early jockeying pointing to a flood of endorsements to come.
“You're gonna start to see a lot of political movement now,” said Chad Alexander, a former chairman of the Oklahoma GOP.
Inhofe, who holds a prominent role as ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Friday announced he would relinquish in early 2023 the seat he first won in 1994. The 87-year-old is grappling with a case of COVID-19, and his wife has also had health issues.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/595937-inhofe-retirement-to-set-off-intense-jockeying-in-oklahoma