Cole, Thomas J. (Thomas Jeffery), 1949-

Thomas Jeffery Cole (born April 28, 1949) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 4th congressional district since 2003.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana and raised in Moore, Oklahoma, he graduated from Moore High School before earning a B.A. from Grinnell College, an M.A. from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He did research abroad as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow and was a Fulbright Fellow (1977–78) at the University of London. He was a college professor in history and politics at Oklahoma Baptist University before joining the staff of U.S. Representatives Mickey Edwards. He later served as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, a member of the Oklahoma State Senate, as executive director and chief of staff for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Oklahoma Secretary of State.

In 2002, Cole was elected to succeed Republican Congressman Julius Caesar "J. C." Watts, Jr. in the House of Representatives. His voting record during his time in the House has marked Cole as a solid conservative with occasional libertarian sympathies. He has consistently voted anti-abortion and pro-business positions, and established himself as a supporter of free trade, gun rights, the military, veterans, and American Indian issues. He favors loosening immigration restrictions and imposing stricter limits on campaign funds. Since 2009, Cole has served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where he is currently Vice Ranking Member of the full committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Cole was appointed to the House Rules Committee in 2013 and has remained on the panel since then. He currently serves as Ranking Member, the top Republican leadership position on the committee. Cole also serves as a Deputy Whip for the Republican Conference and sits on the House Republican Steering Committee.