Tom Cole on 2026 Midterm Elections

Public disputes concerning the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle, including campaigns, candidates, conventions, advertising, endorsements, and election-related policy promises.

How we classify topics

Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.

Statement history

3 statements on this page. Dates: March 2, 2026 to September 17, 2026

3 matching statements. Dates: March 2, 2026 to September 17, 2026

3 published statements. Dates: March 2, 2026 to September 17, 2026

Condemned

1 published statement. Dates: September 17, 2026

1 statement on this page. Dates: September 17, 2026

Tom Cole

Role at the time: United States Representative for Oklahoma's 4th district and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, in comments to Fox News Digital

September 17, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, whose committee would likely draft any such payment, told Fox News Digital he would prefer the money go to defense or to Social Security rather than to a universal $5,000 payment. He was also reported as skeptical that the dividend could be achieved.

“I'd rather use it to either bolster defense or save Social Security. I think that's a better use of the money.”

Open source

GOP lawmakers pump brakes on Trump's $5K check promise: 'Where are you getting the money?' · Fox NewsFox News Digital, September 17, 2026. Interviews with House Republicans about the proposed $5,000 dividend.

A survey of House Republican opinion eight days after Trump announced the pledge, gathering direct comment from members including the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and the chairman of the Republican Study Committee. It records the split between outright opposition, conditional support that would narrow eligibility, and unqualified endorsement, and notes the unresolved question of whether the payment would require congressional authorisation at all.

Why we used this label

Cole rejects that use of the money and names two alternatives he considers better, which is criticism of the proposal itself rather than of its financing mechanics. The closest competing label is “Mixed or conditional”, since he does not rule the payment out in principle and speaks of preference rather than opposition. That loses because a stated preference for spending the same money elsewhere is a rejection of this proposal, not a condition under which he would support it.

Read statement Trump’s $5,000 election pledge: policy dividend or vote-buying?

Defended or excused

2 published statements. Dates: March 2, 2026 to September 15, 2026

2 statements on this page. Dates: March 2, 2026 to September 15, 2026

Tom Cole

Role at the time: U.S. Representative, Oklahoma 4th district

September 15, 2026Defended or excused

Statement summary

Tom Cole voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, the House resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

“On Agreeing to the Resolution: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”

Read the official statementU.S. House Roll Call Vote 307: H.Con.Res. 93, Iran War Powers Resolution (agreed to, 220-204)

Official House roll call 307 on H.Con.Res. 93, directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Agreed to 220-204 on September 15, 2026, during the 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire. As a concurrent resolution it was not presented to the President.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

A nay vote opposed the resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, allowing U.S. military operations in the war to continue.

Read statement Do they support the war in Iran?

Tom Cole

Role at the time: U.S. Representative for Oklahoma at the statement date.

March 2, 2026Defended or excused

Statement summary

Cole supports the strikes and argues Trump acted after exhausting diplomacy.

“The President did not take this action lightly or impulsively.”

Read the official statementTom Cole on the Iran warComplete original release or interview report; date-only timestamp represented at noon UTC

He describes Iran’s regime as a threat and endorses dismantling its dangerous capabilities. He supports preventing nuclear weapons and expresses support for troops and Iranian freedom.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

Relative to U.S. military involvement in the 2026 Iran war, Cole supports the strikes and argues Trump acted after exhausting diplomacy.

Read statement Do they support the war in Iran?