Tom Coburn : Ask Biography

Personal data

Date of birth

March 14, 1948(age 68)

Place of birth

Casper, Wyoming

Birth name

Thomas Allen Coburn

Political party

Republican

Spouse

Carolyn Coburn

Children

Callie Coburn
Katie Coburn
Sarah Coburn

Residence

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Alma mater

Oklahoma State University (B.S.),
University of Oklahoma (M.D.)

Occupation

physician/politician

Religion

Southern Baptist

Assumed office

January 3, 2005

Serving with Jim Inhofe

Preceded by

Don Nickles

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's district

In office

January 3, 1995 - January 3, 2001

Succeeded by

Brad Carson

Preceded by

Mike Synar

Home | Office Holder | Tom Coburn

Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. (born March 14, 1948), is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills he views as unconstitutional.

Coburn was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 as part of the Republican Revolution. He upheld his campaign pledge to serve no more than three consecutive terms and did not run for re-election in 2000. In 2004, he returned to political office with a successful run for the U.S. Senate.

Coburn is a fiscal and social conservative, known for his opposition to deficit spending and pork barrel projects, and for his leadership in the pro-life movement. He supports term limits, gun rights, and the death penalty and opposes gay marriage.

While Coburn announced on February 12, 2010 that he was running for a second term in the Senate, he also announced that he would not run for re-election to a third term in the Senate in 2016.