Tom Cole
RepublicanU.S. Representative, OK-4| Age | 77 (b. 1949-04-28) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2003-01-07 (~23 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | Native American (Chickasaw Nation) |
| Religion | Methodist (United Methodist Church) |
| Education | B.A., Grinnell College (1971); M.A., Yale University (1974); Ph.D. in British History, University of Oklahoma (1984); Thomas J. Watson Fellow; Fulbright Fellow at University of London (1977-78) |
| Prior occupation | Professor of history and politics (University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist University); political consultant and founding partner, Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass & Associates; district director for Rep. Mickey Edwards |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Languages | English |
| Marital status | married — Ellen Decker Cole |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Moore, Oklahoma |
| Notable relatives | Mother: Helen Te Ata Cole — first Native American elected to Oklahoma State Senate, also served in Oklahoma House of Representatives and as Mayor of Moore; great-niece of Te Ata Fisher, famous Chickasaw storyteller |
Pending research: openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2002 |
| Previous offices | Oklahoma State Senate, District 45 (1988–1991) · Oklahoma Secretary of State (1995–1999) · Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (1991–1993) · Chief of Staff, Republican National Committee (1999–2001) · Chair, Oklahoma Republican Party (1985–1989) |
| Committees | House Appropriations Committee (Chair, 119th Congress) |
| Caucuses | Congressional Native American Caucus (Co-Chair) · Republican Study Committee · Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans · House Energy Action Team · Multiple Sclerosis Caucus · Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus · Long Range Strike Caucus · National Guard Caucus · Pro-Life Caucus · Congressional History Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, House Appropriations Committee (April 2024–present) · Chair, House Rules Committee (January 2023–April 2024) · Chair, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) (2007–2009) |
| Ideology | Recognized as one of the most conservative members of Congress; scored 80%+ on American Conservative Union ratings; Heritage Action 2025 scorecard: 67% |
| Signature legislation | Stigler Act Amendments of 2018 (H.R. 2606) — removed blood quantum requirements for tribal land restricted status (signed December 31, 2018) · Chickasaw National Recreation Area Land Exchange Act of 2004 (signed October 30, 2004) · Tribal Trust Land Reaffirmation Act (H.R. 5257) — addresses Carcieri v. Salazar Supreme Court decision on tribal trust land · Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act (co-sponsor) · Indian Healthcare Improvement Act (champion) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed + (2023) · estimate
| Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass & Associates (CHS) — stock/partnership interest | business_owned · $15,001–$50,000 · 2023 |
| Alliant Energy Corporation (common stock) | stock · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| Becton, Dickinson and Company (common stock) | stock · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| Burke & Herbert Money Market Fund | fund · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | fund · 2023 |
| Personal residence, Moore, Oklahoma | real_estate · 2023 |
| 10 acres of land, Johnson County, Oklahoma (co-owned with brother) | real_estate · 2023 |
Top donors: American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) PAC (over $500,000) · In The Arena PAC ($5,000 (2024 cycle))
Top industries: Defense / Aerospace · Health Professionals · Oil & Gas · Real Estate · Finance / Securities & Investment
Scandals & crimes ledger
No recorded incidents. Under the adjudicated-only methodology, an entry appears only when a court or official body has formally acted and the record is cited.