Oklahoma is the reddest state in America. Look no further than the county-by-county results of the last several presidential elections for proof of that. The state legislature is controlled by large conservative majorities. Both U.S. senators and all House members are Republicans. Most voters believe in strong borders, gun rights, pro-life laws, energy production, and limited government. With expectations this high, Oklahoma voters judge their senators by a tougher standard than almost anywhere else.
Statesman reviewed the performance of Senators James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin to see how well they match the state they represent. This audit looks at their voting records, their leadership style, their positions on major issues, and how closely they reflect Oklahoma’s conservative identity.
LANKFORD
James Lankford has represented Oklahoma since 2011. He moved from the House to the Senate in 2014 and won reelection in 2022 with 64 percent of the vote. That win showed that most Republican voters still have confidence in him, even with challengers who tried to paint him as too willing to work across the aisle.
Lankford’s voting record is one of the most conservative in the Senate. He holds a 92 percent lifetime score with the American Conservative Union. Heritage Action scores him at 85 percent. GovTrack ranked him as the twelfth most conservative senator in 2022. He is fully pro life, has an A rating from the NRA, supported the Trump tax cuts, and voted against large spending increases during the Biden years. He has also been a steady voice against progressive policies such as the Green New Deal.
The biggest challenge to Lankford’s standing came after the 2024 border talks. He helped work on a proposal that added more wall funding but allowed some controlled crossings. Many Oklahoma conservatives saw any level of compromise as unacceptable. This led to a censure from the Oklahoma County GOP and talk of a future primary. Even so, the bill was still more conservative than critics claimed, and it showed Lankford’s approach to solving problems instead of only fighting them.
Lankford performs well on issues that matter most to Oklahoma. He pushed back on Biden administration limits on drilling and energy production. He supported rural broadband expansion. He backed farm bill protections and tribal sovereignty. He warned about shutdown effects on military bases but still voted for fiscal discipline. On gun rights, he voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act after the Uvalde shooting and argued that the bill hurt lawful gun owners while ignoring school security and mental health.
Based on the Statesman audit, Lankford earns an 8.4 out of 10. He is one of the most reliable conservative senators in Washington. His only weakness is that some activists do not trust his willingness to negotiate. On performance, he still deserves another term.
MULLIN
Markwayne Mullin brings a different style to the Senate. He won his seat in 2022 after a decade in the House. He is a business owner, a member of the Cherokee Nation, and a former MMA fighter. His approach is loud, direct, and physical. Many rural voters appreciate that because they want a senator who shows fight.
Mullin’s voting record is conservative but not as tight as Lankford’s. His lifetime ACU score is 88 percent. Heritage Action scores him at 70 percent. He votes with Republicans most of the time. He is strongly pro life and a critic of the Affordable Care Act. GovTrack places him closer to the middle of the GOP in terms of ideology, but he still lands on the conservative side of major issues.
His political identity has changed over the years. Mullin was a Trump skeptic in 2016, then shifted into a Trump supporter who hosted rallies and backed election challenges. This move helped him with the base, but it also made some critics say he shifts positions too easily. Moments like his 2023 hearing confrontation and his 2025 comment about a journalist added to his reputation for being unpredictable. Supporters see that as toughness. Critics see it as unnecessary drama.
Mullin has worked on Oklahoma’s core issues. He has pushed for rural health programs. He supported the reauthorization of State Offices of Rural Health. He fights federal rules that hurt oil and gas. He works on tribal concerns. He supports job training programs that help the state’s manufacturing industry. During the 2025 shutdown, he blamed Senate Democratic leaders for policies that hurt rural Oklahoma.
His gun rights record is strong but not perfect. His NRA rating is a B, which stands out in a state where many expect an A. He has supported some limited background check adjustments, but he is firmly against red flag laws and bans on common firearms. Most Oklahoma gun owners still see him as a supporter of the Second Amendment, though some want a harder line.
Based on the Statesman audit, Mullin earns a 7.1 out of 10. He represents the culture of rural Oklahoma well and is a solid conservative vote. He could strengthen his overall record by avoiding headline making standoffs and sharpening his work on major issues like spending and gun rights. He deserves another term, but his 2026 race will likely draw attention from conservative activists.
Oklahoma is a deeply conservative state that expects strong, consistent leadership in Washington. Lankford and Mullin offer two different forms of that leadership. Lankford brings experience, policy strength, and steady conservative voting. Mullin brings energy, cultural connection, and a willingness to fight. Together, they cover most of the priorities of Oklahoma’s Republican base.
James Lankford Grade: 8.4 out of 10
Markwayne Mullin Grade: 7.1 out of 10
The scores in this audit were based on how closely each senator aligns with the core priorities of a majority of Oklahoma voters. Statesman evaluated their records in several key areas, including border security, gun rights, pro-life positions, federal spending, energy policy, rural issues, and overall consistency with the state’s conservative identity. Voting history, public statements, and major legislative actions were all considered. The final number is not a judgment of personality or style, but a reflection of how well each senator’s work matches the expectations of the reddest state in the country.