× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

CLAREMORE — Markwayne Mullin and Jarrin Jackson will be the names on the ballot for the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary on June 28.

Not on the ballot, but hovering in the background, will be two godfathers of the Oklahoma GOP — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and former Sen. Tom Coburn. Within hours of each other Wednesday, Coburn announced his endorsement of Jackson and Inhofe did the same for Mullin.

“I would go anywhere and do anything to make sure this guy stays in the Oklahoma delegation,” Inhofe told about 100 people at a rally outside the Will Rogers Memorial and Museum in Claremore.

A few hours earlier, Jackson’s campaign issued a statement quoting Coburn, who retired from Congress two years ago after 10 years in the Senate and earlier spending six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I am proud to endorse Jarrin Jackson, a combat veteran who understands and has fought for our Constitution,” Coburn said in the statement. “He will stand up for us in Washington and not go along to get along. He also will honor a six-year self-imposed term limit.”

Coburn and Inhofe represent distinct schools of thought within the Oklahoma Republican Party.