A former adviser to President Donald Trump has become the latest addition to Oklahoma’s crowded special Senate election.
Alex Gray, who held several high-ranking roles during the Trump administration, said Tuesday he would seek election to the Senate after GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe announced last month he would retire at the end of 2022 with four years left in his term. Gray said he would promote an “America first” approach as a Republican in the Senate.
“It is important during this period when our country is being subjected to the radical policies of Joe Biden that we elect an America First conservative to the Senate,” Gray said in a statement. “The current 50-50 split in the Senate is terrifying, and we must keep the seats we have and add additional ones in the 2022 election cycle. Republicans in the Senate are the last line of defense against court-packing, the Green New Deal, radical liberal judges, and 40 year-high inflation under the Biden administration.”
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The Oklahoma native was the chief of staff for the National Security Council under Trump and previously helped lead the office of trade and manufacturing policy. He attended Oklahoma State University and George Washington University and has worked in the foreign policy field ever since. Gray joined Trump’s campaign in 2016.
“I was honored to serve President Trump every day of his presidency in the White House, and I will continue President Trump’s America First mission in the Senate and fight for the same conservative policies that helped our country prosper under his leadership,” he said.
Gray’s first endorsement came from Ric Grenell, former ambassador to Germany and acting director of the National Intelligence Agency, who worked closely with Gray under Trump.
“When I think of President Trump’s successful America First foreign policy, people like Alex Gray come immediately to mind,” Grenell said. “He served under President Trump from the 2016 campaign until the President’s last day in office. What experience and training for Alex to take to the U.S. Senate as he serves the great people of Oklahoma. Alex has my full support this November as we take our country back.”
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Gray is joining what has become a crowded Republican primary to replace Inhofe in the seat he first won in 1994. Inhofe, 87, endorsed his chief of staff Luke Holland as his successor. State Sen. Nathan Dahm joined the race last week and garnered the endorsement of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. Rep. Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District is also vying for the nomination. The primary will be June 28 in the heavily Republican state, meaning it’s tantamount to victory in the general election.
