8-19-2025
James Lankford serves Oklahomans. He served four years in the US House of Representatives for central Oklahoma, until he was overwhelmingly elected to the US Senate in 2014.
Before his service in Congress, James served students and families for more than 20 years in ministry, including 15 years as the Director of Student Ministry for the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma and Director of the Falls Creek Youth Camp, the largest youth camp in the United States, with more than 51,000 individuals attending each summer.
James and his staff enjoy serving people from all backgrounds across Oklahoma. As Chair of the Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee, which covers border security, management, and operations; regulatory reform; and the federal workforce. He demands we have a secure, more fiscally responsible, and transparent federal government, and our nation remains the world leader. He believes that the federal government has an important role in our nation, but empowered families, individual people, and private businesses grow our economy and pass down our values.
James was recognized as the Senate’s top-ranked “Taxpayers Friend” by the National Taxpayers Union for his strong record in support of lower taxes, limited government, and economic freedom. His annual Federal Fumbles report is a must-read in Washington, DC, because of its commonsense solutions to the problems our federal government faces. He has also been recognized by many other organizations for his work toward increased personal freedom, economic growth, and religious liberty.
James lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Cindy. They have been married more than 30 years and have two daughters, Hannah and Jordan. He enjoys spending time with his family, working in his yard, and reading.
Chair of the Day
Mike Turpen
Michael C. Turpen, from Oklahoma City, was appointed as an Oklahoma State Regent by Gov. Brad Henry in May 2009, serving a nine-year term ending in May 2018. In May 2018, he was reappointed by Gov. Mary Fallin for a second nine-year term ending in May 2027. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is the constitutional coordinating board for the Oklahoma colleges and universities responsible for allocating state funds and setting admission standards and academic policies.
Michael C. Turpen was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, educated in Tulsa Public Schools, and graduated from The University of Tulsa, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a Juris Doctor degree. In 1982, Turpen was elected Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. He served as Muskogee County District Attorney from 1977-82. Since 1987, Turpen has been a partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis in Oklahoma City.
Mike appears weekly on Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR’s award-winning public affairs show, “Flashpoint with Turpen & Lamb.” He was featured on PBS’s national documentary, “Vote for Me: Politics in America.” Mr. Turpen is nationally south-after public speaker, having keynoted conferences of the National Association of Attorneys General, the Fourth Federal Judicial Circuit, and the National Family and Juvenile Judges’ Association. In August 2014, Mike’s book, Turpen Time: The Wit and Wison of Mike Turpen, was published. Mike donated his books as a vehicle to raise $1.6 million to fund college scholarships. Universities that have received funds from book fundraising events include Oklahoma City University, University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma, East Central University, Rogers State University and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Mr. Turpen has received numerous awards, honors and appointments. In 2010, Mike was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Mike has received the Louise Bennett Distinguished Service Award, the Oklahoma Arts Council Governor’s Award for Community Service, the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation’s Treasures for Tomorrow Award and the Urban Pioneer Award from the Plaza District Association. Mike received the Oklahoma Bar Association’s William Paul Distinguished Service Award, recognition from the Clinton Global Initiative for his work with Burns Hargis for Legal Aid of Oklahoma, the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award from the Oklahoma Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the OKC Knights of Columbus’s John F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Award for Community Service. Mike received Lyric Theatre’s John Kirkpatrick Award for his leadership in chairing their successful $10 million capital campaign. The University of Tulsa College of Law Courtroom was named the Price-Turpen Courtroom to honor Mike’s service to his alma mater. The National Association of Attorneys General selected Mike to receive Francis X. Bellotti Award for outstanding service. Mike established the Melvin C. Hall Leadership Scholarship at Langston University and the Marjory Turpen Shahan Scholarship at the University of Oklahoma Helmerich School of Drama, Honoring his mother. N 2000, he was named Distinguished Alumnus for the University of Tulsa and in 2018 named to TU Law School’s Hall of Fame. Mike and Susan received the coveted Jasmine Award from the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in recognition for giving extraordinary service to the youth of Oklahoma. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the President’s Advisory Council on the Arts at the Kennedy Center. Jike was the recipient of the National Foundation for the Improvement of Justice Award and was honored by the National Organization for Victim Assistance as one of Ten Outstanding National Leaders in the Field of Victim Rights over the past decade. Mr. Turpen was listed in Esquire Magazine’s 1085 Register: Men and Women Under Forty Who are Changing the Nation. In 1980, he was the winner of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Maurice Merrill Golden Quill Award for outstanding contributions to the Oklahoma Bar Journal.
Fundraising for worthy causes is in Mike’s DNA. In 2015 and 2020 with Judy Love, Mike co-chaired the United Way of Central Oklahoma fundraising campaigns, raising a total of $42.3 million benefitting over 56 Partner Agencies. During 2019, Mike co-chaired a project raising over $1.5 million benefitting educational programs for the Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center. In 2017, Mike co-chaired the Aubrey McClendon Memorial Campaign for OKC’s Boathouse District, raising over $6 million. In 2013, he cochaired the $21 million fundraising campaign for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and initiated the Called2Change program, raising funds to ensure every freshman in OKCPS spends a day at the memorial and museum. In 2014, Mike co-chaired Allied Arts’ $3.5 million annual fundraising campaign. Mike’s success in each of these campaigns is due, in large part, to having amazing partners and co-chairs like Judy Love, John Richels and Bob Ross.
Mike was appointed y Governor Brad Henry to serve a nine-year term on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and was recently appointed by Governor Mary Fallin to serve another nine-year term. Mike served two years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. He is a member of the Oklahoma Academy of State Goals, Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Business Roundtable, the Economic Club of Oklahoma, and the Advisory Board for The University of Tulsa College of Law. Mike served as President and board member of the CARE Center, OKC, President of the Lyric Theatre Board of Directors, and is a board member of the Oklahoma State Fair Board, Allied Arts, and United Way of Central Oklahoma.
In 1984, Mike argued before the United State Supreme Court. He served as President of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association, Vice President of the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA), and Vice Chairman of Oklahoma’s Crime Commission. Mr. Turpen is a member of the American, Oklahoma, Tulsa County, and Oklahoma County Bar Associations, as well as a Founding Fellow of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and a faculty member of the National College of District Attorneys. Mr. Turpen is married to wife, Susan, and has three children, Sean, Patrick and Sarah. His is a proud grandfather to Wren Kira Turpen, daughter of son Sean and his wife, Ashley. He is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, currently serving as an Elder of the Session, as well as having taught the Confirmation Class with his wife and having served on the WPC Foundation Board of Directors.
