A longtime advocate for his community, Cole marked an early legislative success with a 2004 law that allowed Sulphur, Okla., to swap land with the federal government so the Chickasaws could build a cultural center. Fellow Oklahoman Kevin Hern, who leads the conservative Republican Study Committee, is also backing Cole, calling him a “remarkable leader in our conference.”

A favorite of leadership, Cole took on the difficult — to put it lightly — task of Rules Committee chairman at the start of the 118th Congress. Cole also led the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 2008 cycle, a difficult one for the GOP, which lost 21 seats.

While Cole was not available for an interview, he described himself as a “budget hawk” in his statement announcing his bid for the chairman’s gavel.

“I believe in stretching our budget’s dollars as far as we can, but I also recognize there are critical needs and challenges that must be funded if our great nation is going to be protected, preserved and improved,” he said. “However, as chairman, I will ensure that, in doing this, we are not wasting and abusing.”

Acknowledging discontent from appropriators who feel shut out of final leadership deal-making, Cole said that as chairman, he would ensure that appropriators are in the room as appropriations deals are being negotiated.

And while he supports a balanced budget, Cole said, it is impossible to solve the U.S. deficit problem by targeting discretionary spending that is the subject of annual appropriations. The Congressional Budget Office has attributed rising deficits to the soaring costs of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, along with rising interest payments on the debt.

Frelinghuysen described Cole as an exceptionally smart and savvy lawmaker, with an understanding of members’ districts and personalized interests.

“He’s extremely knowledgeable,” he said. “He’s well traveled, well thought of. It’d be a remarkable win for the institution.”

Frelinghuysen said he was particularly grateful to Cole when the Oklahoman came to his aid on an amendment he was sponsoring in 2013 to add $33 billion to a Superstorm Sandy relief package, following that late 2012 storm that devastated parts of the Northeast, including Frelinghuysen’s home state of New Jersey.

While most Republicans opposed it, citing the cost, Cole supported the funding in a gesture of appreciation for Frelinghuysen’s family history on defending Native Americans. Sen. Theodore Frelinghuysen, who served during the Andrew Jackson presidency, fought Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced Native Americans to move west.

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