Rep. Tom Cole fends off primary challengers in Oklahoma

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) has won the GOP nomination for his House seat representing Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. 

Cole, who has held his House seat for more than 20 years, held off a few primary challengers in the contest, most notably businessman Paul Bondar. Cole is the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. 

Bondar had outraised Cole in the primary thanks to a $5 million loan that he gave his own campaign, accounting for most of the money he took in. He ran in the primary to the right as a strong supporter of former President Trump, calling for tough immigration policy, ending additional financial support for Ukraine and impeaching President Biden. 

Cole, who has been a supporter of additional support for Ukraine, emphasized his strong ties to his state and experience compared to Bondar, who only moved to Oklahoma from Texas relatively recently.  

Cole will be the favorite to prevail in the November general election in a solidly conservative district.