GOP Sen. Jame Lankford Finds Himself Politically Weakened At Home In Oklahoma After Negotiating Border Deal

After the Oklahoma Republican Party censured Sen. James Lankford for negotiating a bill to secure the border, the senior senator finds himself in a weak position in the state which brought him to national prominence.  

Members of the Oklahoma Republican Party blasted Lankford for working with Democrats to craft a compromise bill that included some of the strictest border provisions in U.S. history – including faster expulsion of migrants, a higher standard for those seeking asylum and more funds for border guards and courts. The package was paired with a $90 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after Republicans said they would not consider the aid package without enhanced border security measures.  

Oklahoma Republicans were no doubt influenced by ex-President Donald Trump, who expressed his disagreement with the border deal which he said would hurt his chances in the November election by taking a key issue away from him. Trump even falsely denied that he had endorsed Lankford. 

After the bill was voted down in the Senate, Lankford, who is next up for reelection in 2028, said, “That is how it works to make law: You can do press conferences without the other side, but you can’t make law.