◆ The candidate record

Tom Cole

Born 04/28/1949 · Shreveport, LA
A
32 sourced actions
◆ The seat
OFFICE
House
DISTRICT
Oklahoma · 04
PARTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY
STATUS
Incumbent
ELECTION
2026-11-03
House Appropriations · Chair
◆ The record
32
SOURCED ACTIONS
25
FLOOR VOTES
1
FEC TRANSACTIONS
31 / 1
PRO / ANTI-2A
8
SCORECARDS
2026-07-14
LATEST ACTION
Community

The record (32)

A
Graded on 32 sourced actions

FEC-recorded money between Second Amendment committees and this candidate, and recorded floor votes on gun bills, each with its official source. Community sentiment below never moves this grade.

1 / 715 of 32

Contact Tom Cole

  • DISTRICT · 711 Southwest D Avenue Suite 201 · Lawton, OK · 73501
  • CAMPAIGN · Post Office Box 722256 · Norman, OK · 73070

Interest-group scorecards (8)

How advocacy groups on both sides score this candidate, reprinted as published. These are the groups’ judgments, not ours, and they never enter the grade above.

National
0%2015-2016
6 earlier ratings
  • 2013-20140%
  • 20030%
  • 1991-20090%
  • 1990-201660%
  • 1990-201460%
  • 1988-20080%
About this group

The mission of the Brady organization and its Million Mom March is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

National
62%2024
19 earlier ratings
  • 2023100%
  • 2021-202279%
  • 202162%
  • 202062%
  • 2017-201850%
  • 2015-201680%
  • 201580%
  • 201480%
  • 201390%
  • 2012100%
  • 201175%
  • 201093%
  • 2009≈90%
  • 2007≈90%
  • 2006100%
  • 200550%
  • 2003-200470%
  • 2003≈80%
  • 200370%
About this group

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

National
76%2019-2020
About this group

We take the conservative policy visions outlined by our sister organization, The Heritage Foundation" (whose mission is: 'to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.' ) " and make them a reality. We ensure members of Congress hear directly from their constituents.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

National
5%2005
1 earlier rating
  • 20030%
About this group

In 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt and her friends had an idea for an organization that would pool the resources of small contributors from across the country and spend those funds to help elect the most progressive candidates to the U.S. Senate and House. NCEC supports progressive candidates who fight for the issues we believe in, like freedom of choice, separation of church and state, gun control, equal rights, and environmental protection.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

National
100%2024
10 earlier ratings
  • 202292%
  • 202092%
  • 2018100%
  • 2016-202292%
  • 201693%
  • 201293%
  • 200893%
  • 200693%
  • 200493%
  • 200293%
About this group

The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is NRA's political action committee. The NRA-PVF ranks political candidates - irrespective of party affiliation - based on voting records, public statements and their responses to an NRA-PVF questionnaire. NRA relies on a very simple premise: when provided with the facts, the nation's elected officials will recognize that "gun control" schemes are an infringement on the Second Amendment and a proven failure in fighting crime. The importance of this premise lies in the knowledge that, as one U.S. Congressman put it: "The gun lobby is people."

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

Oklahoma
≈95%2010
About this group

The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is NRA's political action committee. The NRA-PVF ranks political candidates - irrespective of party affiliation - based on voting records, public statements and their responses to an NRA-PVF questionnaire. [...] NRA relies on a very simple premise: when provided with the facts, the nation's elected officials will recognize that "gun control" schemes are an infringement on the Second Amendment and a proven failure in fighting crime. The importance of this premise lies in the knowledge that, as one U.S. Congressman put it: "The gun lobby is people.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

National
100%2021-2022
2 earlier ratings
  • 2020100%
  • 2018100%
About this group

To promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

National
0%2003
About this group

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy. CSGV is composed of 47 national organizations working to reduce gun violence. Our coalition members include religious organizations, child welfare advocates, public health professionals, and social justice organizations. This diversity of member organizations allows us to reach a wide variety of grassroots constituencies who share our vision of non-violence.

The group’s description of itself, reprinted as published.

Background

Education
  • PhD, 19th Century British History, University of Oklahoma, 1984
  • BA, History, Grinnell College, 1971
  • MA, British History, Yale University, 1974
Profession
  • Former Faculty, Oklahoma Baptist University
  • Former Faculty, University of Oklahoma
  • Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee, 1991-1993
+7 more
  • Founding Partner, Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates, 1988-2002
  • Chief of Staff, Republican National Committee, 1999-2000
  • District Director, Representative Mickey Edwards
  • Chair, Oklahoma Republican Party, 1985-1989
  • Research Fellow, Fullbright, 1977-1978
  • Consultant, United States Chamber of Commerce
  • Former Research Fellow, Thomas J. Watson
Political career
  • Deputy Whip, Republican Conference
  • Secretary of State, State of Oklahoma, 1995-1999
  • Senator, Oklahoma State Senate, 1989-1991
+2 more
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 2024, 2026
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, 2002-present

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