Senate Republicans choose Paxton to remain as caucus leader

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Republican leader of the Oklahoma Senate is poised to stay in his role for another two years.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, ran unopposed to be the GOP supermajority’s nominee for the top post. Republican senators chose him to continue as president pro tem in a closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday.

Paxton, who has led the Senate since 2024, must pass a vote by all 48 Oklahoma senators during the Legislature’s organizational day Jan. 5. If elected, he will continue guiding the Senate’s policy priorities and overseeing its operations while working with the state House and executive branch.

Paxton has represented a moderate coalition of the Senate Republican Caucus that held a majority over the far-right Freedom Caucus in recent years. That majority is expected to grow in the next legislative session after some Freedom Caucus senators weren’t reelected this year.

In a statement Tuesday, Paxton said the Senate’s focus “will remain on responsible budgeting, strengthening our economy, improving education and ensuring state government remains accountable to the people we serve.”

“I’m honored to have the continued confidence and support of my colleagues,” he said. “Serving as pro tem is a responsibility I take seriously, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”

Paxton is an insurance agent, business owner, farmer and rancher, and longtime volunteer firefighter.

He was elected to the Senate in 2016 and has two years left before reaching a 12-year term limit.