Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe to Retire at Year End; Special Election in November

Jim Inhofe announced Friday that he will retire from the U.S. Senate at the end of the year. The Oklahoma Republican, now 87, was elected to his 6th term in 2020.

It is bittersweet, but with a clear heart, that Kay and I announce that at the end of the year, I will retire from the United States Senate.

My full statement below. pic.twitter.com/nEDbmJJjEQ

— Sen. Jim Inhofe (@JimInhofe) February 25, 2022

A special election to complete the remaining four years of Inhofe's term will take place concurrent with the November midterm elections. As Inhofe is remaining in the Senate until the end of this Congress, no interim appointment will be needed.

The move means both of the state's U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot this year. In the regularly-scheduled election, Republican Sen. James Langford will be seeking his 3rd term.

The primary is June 28, with a runoff August 23 for races where no candidate gets a majority of the vote. In a state as red as Oklahoma, the Republican nominee is all but certain to be the winner in November.

To that end, a number of high-profile candidates are expected to compete for the nomination. According to Politico, that includes "Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has increased his national profile over the past two years. There’s also state Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, who ran for the state’s open Senate seat in 2014, and former U.S. Attorney Trent Shore. Reps. Markwayne Mullin and Kevin Hern are viewed as likely contenders, as well."

The special election seat will be added to the 2022 Senate Interactive Map in the days ahead.