LegiStorm

Biographical

Family:

Press Releases

Education

• University of Oklahoma (Norman) - PhD, British history (1984)

  Activities and notes: Graduate assistant

• University of London (England) - Attended (1977-1978)

  Activities and notes: Fulbright Fellowship; Thomas Watson Fellowship

• Yale University - MA, British history (1974)

• Grinnell College - BA, history (1967-1971)

• Moore (Okla.) High School - Diploma (1967)

Office History

Election Results

• 2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 67.79%

  Republican
  Mary Brannon, 28.78%

  Democrat
  Bob White, 3.44%

  Libertarian

• 2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 63.00%

  Republican
  Mary Brannon, 33.00%

  Democrat
  Ruby Peters, 4.00%

  Non-designated

• 2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 69.63%

  Republican
  Christina Owen, 26.08%

  Democrat
  Sevier White, 4.29%

  Libertarian

• 2015 (Nov. 4, 2014 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 70.80%

  Republican
  Bert Smith, 24.66%

  Democrat
  Dennis B Johnson, 4.54%

  Independent

• 2013 (Nov. 6, 2012 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 67.89%

  Republican
  Donna Marie Bebo, 27.60%

  Democrat
  R J Harris, 4.51%

  Independent

• 2011 (Nov. 2, 2010 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 100.00%

  Republican

• 2009 (Nov. 4, 2008 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 66.02%

  Republican
  Blake Cummings, 29.21%

  Democrat
  David E Joyce, 4.78%

  Independent

• 2007 (Nov. 7, 2006 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 64.61%

  Republican
  Hal Spake, 35.39%

  Democrat

• 2005 (Nov. 2, 2004 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 77.77%

  Republican
  Charlene K. Bradshaw, 22.23%

  Independent

• 2003 (Nov. 5, 2002 election)

  4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
  Thomas Jeffery Cole (Tom), 53.83%

  Republican
  Darryl Roberts, 46.17%

  Democrat

Employment History

• U. S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (April 2001-2002)

  Senior Adviser

• Republican National Committee (1999-2001)

  Chief of Staff

• Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of State (1995-1999)

  Secretary

• National Republican Congressional Committee (1991-1993)

  Executive Director

• Rep. Mickey Edwards (R-OK) (1982-1984)

  District Director

• Oklahoma Baptist University

  Faculty

Associated Organizations

Board membership:

• U.S. Capitol Historical Society

  Trustee

• Smithsonian Institution

  Member, Board of Regents

• Fulbright Association

  Member, National Board

• Aspen Institute

  Member, Congressional Advisory Board

Membership:

• Oklahoma Historical Society

• Oklahoma Academy for State Goals

• Norman (Okla.) Chamber of Commerce

• Moore (Okla.) Public Schools Foundation

• Moore (Okla.) Chamber of Commerce

Place of worship:

• United Methodist Church (Moore, Okla.)

Tribe membership:

• Chickasaw Nation

Election campaign:

• Cole for Congress (Oklahoma)

Own leadership PAC:

• Conservative Opportunity Leadership and Enterprise PAC

Owner:

• Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass & Associates (1988-2002)

  Partner

Board membership:

• Oklahoma Republican Party (1985-1989)

  Chair

Awards

• National Distinguished Advocacy Award (​American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.) (Sept. 2023)

• Friends of National Service Award (Voices for National Service) (April 2023)

• Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award (Voices for National Service) (April 2023)

• National Service Hall of Fame (Voices for National Service) (April 2023)

• Distinguished Congressional Champion Award for Extraordinary Support of Medical Research (American Association for Cancer Research) (Sept. 2022)

• Hero of Main Street (National Retail Federation) (July 2022)

• Friend of the Family Award (Faith and Freedom Coalition) (Jan. 2022)

• Guardian of Small Business (National Federation of Independent Business Inc.) (Oct. 2020)

• Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (June 2020)

• Head Start Pledge Award (National Head Start Association) (Feb. 2020)

• Multiple Sclerosis Advocate Award (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation) (Feb. 2020)

• Champion of Science Award (Science Coalition) (Feb. 2019)

• Distinguished Community Health Champion (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2019)

• Guardian of Small Business (National Federation of Independent Business Inc.) (Nov. 2018)

• Lifetime Achievement Jake Whitecrow Award (National Indian Health Board) (Sept. 2018)

• Thomas Jefferson Award (International Foodservice Distributors Association) (April 2018)

• Freedom to Fly Award (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) (March 2018)

• Porker of the Month (Citizens Against Government Waste) (Jan. 2018)

• Community Health Congressional Awards (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2018)

• Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (March 2017)

• Distinguished Public Service Award (U.S. Department of the Navy) (Jan. 2017)

• Distinguished Service Award (Voices for National Service) (2017)

• Hall of Fame Inductee (Oklahoma Hall of Fame Inc.) (2017)

• Distinguished Community Health Champion Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2017)

• Red Earth Ambassador of the Year (Red Earth Museum) (Sept. 2016)

• Legislator of the Year (International Franchise Association) (Sept. 2016)

• Honorary Doctor of Law (Grinnell College) (May 2016)

• Fiscal Hero (Fix the Debt Coalition Inc.) (May 2016)

• Thomas Jefferson Award (International Foodservice Distributors Association) (April 2016)

• Champions for Children Award (Save the Children) (April 2016)

• Champion of Public Broadcasting Award (America's Public Television Stations) (Feb. 2016)

• Congressional Champion (Teach for America) (Feb. 2016)

• Public Service Award (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) (Feb. 2016)

• Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy (Research!America) (Jan. 2016)

• Hero of Main Street (National Retail Federation) (July 2015)

• Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (April 2015)

• Congressional Justice Award (American Bar Association) (April 2015)

• Congressional Leadership Award (National Congress of American Indians) (2011)

• Special Award (Oklahoma Veterans Council) (Aug. 2010)

• Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (April 2010)

• Friend of the Wildcatter Award (Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association) (April 2008)

• Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (April 2007)

• Congressional Leadership Award (National Congress of American Indians) (March 2007)

• Manufacturing Legislative Excellence Award (National Association of Manufacturers) (Oct. 2004)

• Small Business Advocate Award (Small Business Survival Committee) (Sept. 2004)

• Friend of the Shareholder Aeard (American Shareholders Association) (Sept. 2004)

• Thomas Jefferson Award (International Foodservice Distributors Association) (Sept. 2004)

• Hero of the Taxpayer (Americans for Tax Reform) (Jan. 2004)

• Hall of Fame Member (Chickasaw Nation) (2004)

• True Blue Award (Family Research Council Action) (Oct. 2003)

Official Signature

Contact Information

• Email, member official contact form

Privately Financed Travel

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Congressional Staff

Committees

• House Appropriations Committee, Chair
House Appropriations Committee Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Homeland Security Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Legislative Branch Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee, Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Ex Officio

Caucuses

• ALS Caucus
• Anti-Value Added Tax Caucus
• Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus
• Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease
• Bipartisan Space and Aeronautics Caucus
• British-American Interparliamentary Group
• Caucus for the Humane Bond
• Cigar Caucus
• Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus
• Congressional Air Force Caucus
• Congressional Apprenticeship Caucus
• Congressional Army Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus
• Congressional Battlefield Caucus
• Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus
• Congressional Bourbon Caucus
• Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
• Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus
• Congressional Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention
• Congressional Caucus on Long-Range Strike
• Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease
• Congressional Caucus on Poland
• Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans
• Congressional Chemistry Caucus
• Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption
• Congressional Community College Caucus
• Congressional Diabetes Caucus
• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Flat Tax Caucus
• Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, Co-Chair
• Congressional Friends of Sweden Caucus
• Congressional German-American Caucus
• Congressional History Caucus
• Congressional Horse Caucus
• Congressional Humanities Caucus
• Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus
• Congressional Lupus Caucus
• Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus
• Congressional National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus
• Congressional Native American Caucus, Co-Chair
• Congressional Natural Gas Caucus
• Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus
• Congressional Prevention Policy Caucus
• Congressional Rare Earth Caucus
• Congressional Recycling Caucus
• Congressional Refinery Caucus
• Congressional Small Business Caucus
• Congressional Social Determinants of Health Caucus
• Congressional Songwriters' Caucus
• Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
• Congressional Taiwan Caucus
• Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome
• Congressional TRIO Caucus
• Congressional UK Caucus
• Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus
• Congressional Wine Caucus
• Congressional Youth ChalleNGe Caucus
• Conservative Opportunity Society
• Friends of Australia Caucus
• Historic Preservation Caucus
• House Aerospace Caucus
• House Baltic Caucus
• House Congressional Mobility Air Forces Caucus
• House Energy Action Team
• House General Aviation Caucus
• House Impact Aid Coalition
• House Military Depot, Arsenal, Ammunition Plant and Industrial Facilities Caucus
• House Republican Conference, Deputy Whip
• House Republican Healthy Future Task Force
• House Republican Healthy Future Task Force Security Subcommittee
• House Republican Steering Committee, Region 10 Representative
• House Republican Study Committee
• House Small Brewers Caucus
• Indian Health Service Task Force
• Missile Defense Caucus
• National Service Congressional Caucus
• Postal Preservation Caucus
• United Service Organizations Congressional Caucus
• Voices for National Service
• Working Group for a Working Congress

Caught Our Eye

• Native American health group adds Rep. Cole aide

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Feb. 22, 2021
  Two years after the National Indian Health Board gave Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) its lifetime achievement award, the advocacy group has hired another of his staffers. read more

• U.S. pro-Ukrainian group hosts Hill delegation

  Posted by J. Todd Foster on April 14, 2016
  A nonprofit recently sent to Kiev congressional aides who work for House members who advocate that the U.S. arm Ukraine in its war against pro-Russian separatists. read more

• Final Four well "represented" in Congress

  Posted by LegiStorm on April 1, 2016
  When the NCAA Final Four tips off Saturday, the participating universities will be well represented in Congress. read more

• Consulting group taps Cole staffer for lobby job

  Posted by Jenna Ebersole on April 14, 2015
  A legislative staffer for Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) has registered to lobby at his new consulting job on behalf of Oklahoma State University. read more

• Senior GOP aide takes legislative energy to American Gas Association

  Posted by Nate Hoffman on March 20, 2014
  Rep. Steve Pearce's (R-N.M.) deputy chief of staff for the past seven months is now using her congressional knowledge to help a national energy trade association. read more