View source for Ernest Istook

{{Short description|American politician (born 1950)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ernie Istook
| image = Ernest Istook 2012 portrait.PNG
| state = [[Oklahoma]]
| district = {{ushr|OK|5|5th}}
| term_start = January 3, 1993
| term_end = January 3, 2007
| predecessor = [[Mickey Edwards]]
| successor = [[Mary Fallin]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|2|11}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], [[Texas]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = Judy Istook
| children = 5
| education = [[Baylor University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Oklahoma City University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| module    = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Ernest Istook Speaks on FY2005 Transportation, Treasury and Related Appropriations.ogg|title=Ernest Istook's voice|type=speech|description=Ernest Istook discusses FY2005 transportation, treasury, and related appropriations<br/>Recorded September 14, 2004}}
}}

'''Ernest James "Ernie" Istook Jr.''' (born February 11, 1950) is a retired American lawyer and politician who served as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Oklahoma's 5th congressional district]]. He held his congressional seat for 14 years, completing seven terms in the House.<ref name=McNutt>{{cite news |title=A look back at what went wrong for Istook; Henry's popularity made race tough, observers say |first=Michael |last=McNutt |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=12 November 2006}}</ref> Currently, Istook is a Distinguished Fellow at [[The Heritage Foundation]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and also a [[talk radio]] host. In 2010, Istook became a Fellow at the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government|Harvard Kennedy School]] leading a study on Propaganda in American Politics.<ref name="Harvard" />

He was a member of the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations]] and the [[United States House Committee on Homeland Security|Homeland Security]] committees. He was the Republican gubernatorial nominee [[2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election|in 2006]], running against incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] governor [[Brad Henry]]. Istook lost the gubernatorial race by a very wide margin, getting only 33.5% of the vote to Henry's 66.5%.

==Early life and career==
Istook's grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from [[Hungary]] through [[Ellis Island]] and spoke Hungarian at home. He graduated from [[Castleberry High School]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas]] in 1967 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas]] in 1971.  He eventually moved to [[Warr Acres, Oklahoma|Warr Acres]], a suburb of [[Oklahoma City]].<ref name=Zizzo>{{cite news |title=Istook Takes New Role For General Election |first=David |last=Zizzo |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |date=17 September 1992}}</ref>

He worked full-time as a radio news reporter first at KOMA (now [[KOKC (AM)|KOKC]]) and then at [[WKY]] in Oklahoma City while attending law school, receiving a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from [[Oklahoma City University School of Law]] in 1976. He was also a member of [[Kappa Sigma]] fraternity.<ref name=Pope>{{cite news |title=Train Doesn't Leave the Station Without This Congressman's OK |first=Charles |last=Pope |newspaper=The Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=15 September 2003}}</ref> After graduation, he established his own law firm, and practiced law for 15 years.<ref name="OK">{{cite web |title=Ernest Istook 109th Congress |url=http://www.odl.state.ok.us/usinfo/congress/109cong/istook109.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414200220/http://www.odl.state.ok.us/usinfo/congress/109cong/istook109.htm |archive-date=2011-04-14 |access-date=7 March 2011 |work=Oklahoma's U.S. Congressional Delegation}}</ref>

Istook also was director of the Oklahoma State Alcoholic and Beverage Control Board (1977–1978),<ref name=Pope/> was legal counsel to popular Oklahoma governor [[David L. Boren]] (1978), and was a member of the board of the [[Metropolitan Library System (Oklahoma)|Metropolitan Library System]] (1982–1986), chairman of the Warr Acres city council (1982–1986),<ref name=OK/> director of the Warr Acres [[chamber of commerce|Chamber of Commerce]], and an Oklahoma state representative 1987–1993.<ref name=Zizzo/>

== U.S. House of Representatives ==
[[File:ErnestIstook.jpg|thumb|Congressman Istook official photo]]

===1992 election===
In the 1992 Republican primary, Istook challenged and defeated incumbent Deputy [[House Minority Whip]] [[Mickey Edwards]] in a three-way primary that also featured former federal prosecutor Bill Price.<ref name=McGuigan>{{cite news |title=Istook: From Long Shot to "Unity" |first=Patrick B. |last=McGuigan |newspaper=Daily Oklahoman |date=7 September 1992}}</ref> Both Istook and Price used Edwards' involvement in the [[House banking scandal]] to chip away at his support.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pianin |first=Eric |date=August 26, 1992 |title=Edwards Loses, Synar In Runoff in Oklahoma |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74045395.html?dids=74045395:74045395&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=AUG+26%2C+1992&author=Eric+Pianin&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Edwards+Loses%2C+Synar+In+Runoff+in+Oklahoma&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406085653/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74045395.html?dids=74045395:74045395&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=AUG+26%2C+1992&author=Eric+Pianin&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Edwards+Loses%2C+Synar+In+Runoff+in+Oklahoma&pqatl=google |archive-date=2012-04-06}}</ref>

Istook narrowly defeated his Democratic challenger, Laurie Williams, in November, winning by only six points.  He never faced another contest nearly that close, and was reelected six more times<ref name=Jenkins>{{cite news |title=Henry Scores Historic win Over Istook in Okla. Governor's Race |first=Ron |last=Jenkins |url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2006/11/09/74147.htm |work=Insurance Journal |date=9 November 2006 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> from what has long been considered the most Republican district in Oklahoma. The Democrats didn't even put up a candidate against him in 1994.

Although Istook lives in Warr Acres, he was listed on the House roll as "R-Oklahoma City".

===Political views===
As a member of Congress, Istook focused on issues surrounding national defense and homeland security, transportation, education, labor, social services and religious liberty.<ref name="Harvard" /> He is [[anti-abortion]] and supports the position that abortion should be prohibited except when the mother's life is in danger. He does not support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Istook opposes [[gay marriage]] and the adoption of children into same-sex homes. He has favored several constitutional amendments including an amendment banning same-sex marriage and an amendment to restrict burning the U.S. flag.

He introduced the ''Religious Freedom Amendment'', a Constitutional Amendment to permit [[school prayer]], in 1995 and (slightly modified) in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BTV168 |title=The Istook Constitutional Amendment on Religious Freedom Activity during 1995 &1996 |url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/istook96.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007093227/http://www.religioustolerance.org/istook96.htm |archive-date=2022-10-07 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Religious Tolerance |language=}}</ref>  On June 4, 1998, the House voted 224–203, with 7 abstentions, in favor of it, but it failed as a Constitutional amendment, needing a 2/3 majority to pass. He reintroduced it in 1999,<ref name=Casteel>{{cite news |title=Miracle not in sight for prayer proposal |first=Chris |last=Casteel |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |date=16 September 1999}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120718122246/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c106:H.J.RES.66.IH: Search Results – THOMAS (Library of Congress)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and again with different text in 2001, renamed the ''Religious Speech Amendment'',<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d107:31:./temp/~bdLo41:: Search Results – THOMAS (Library of Congress)<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and in 2003.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d108:43:./temp/~bd9GvQ:: Search Results – THOMAS (Library of Congress)<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The other efforts did not make it out of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution.

On economics, Istook opposed more federal funds for health coverage and supported welfare and [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] reform,<ref name=Apr05>{{cite news |title=Rep. Istook Meets With Bush |newspaper=US Fed News |date=27 April 2005}}</ref> including the creation of personal accounts within Social Security. He supported the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush administration]]'s [[Economic policy of the George W. Bush administration#Tax cuts|tax cuts]] and wanted to make those permanent. He wrote a bill to relieve the tax burden for married couples, which was passed in February 2000 as the Marriage Tax Penalty Relief Act of 2000.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Istook Says Ax the Marriage Tax |publisher=Congressional Press Releases |date=10 February 2000}}</ref> He favors expansion of [[free trade]]; he voted in favor of [[CAFTA]]. He wants the U.S. to withdraw from the [[World Trade Organization]], wants the end of the [[estate tax]], and supported [[Normal Trade Relations]] with the [[People's Republic of China]] to be made permanent. In 2004 Istook travelled to [[Beijing]] to speak with Chinese leaders and expand trade between the U.S. and China. In particular his visit focused on the opportunities for Oklahoma to trade in China.<ref name=Fed>{{cite news |title=Rep. Istook Leads Trade Talks With Top Chinese Officials in Beijing |newspaper=US Fed News |date=10 November 2004}}</ref>

Istook voted to make the [[USA PATRIOT Act]] permanent and supports intelligence gathering by the military.  Istook favors military recruiting on college campuses that receive federal aid. Istook endorsed the Bush administration and its handling of the [[War in Iraq]] and supports higher [[United States Department of Defense|Defense Department]] funding.

Istook does not support a U.S. ratification of the [[Kyoto Protocol]] nor heavy taxpayer subsidies for alternative fuel sources. He supports drilling in [[ANWR]].

===Congressional committees===
Istook served on several congressional committees during his time in the House. He was a member of the Appropriations Committee from the mid-1990s<ref>{{cite news |title=Negotiations Fail on Curbing Nonprofit Groups' Lobbying |first=Stephen |last=Barr |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 October 1995}}</ref> and chaired a number of its subcommittees including Treasury, Transportation, and Special Agencies.<ref name=Harvard>{{cite web |url=http://www.iop.harvard.edu/ernest-j-istook-jr |title=Former Fellows: Ernest J. Istook Jr. |work=Harvard University Institute of Politics |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> He also served on the Homeland Security Committee and was a founder of the re-established Republican Study Committee.<ref name=Apr05/>

=== Transit funding controversies ===
Istook is against the current federal funding level for [[Amtrak]]. For several years, he chaired the subcommittee on Treasury, Transportation, and Special Agencies, which oversaw transportation funding. In 2004, Istook denied special transportation funding (earmarks) requests for districts of 21 Republican House members because the other Republicans had written a letter supporting of funding of $1.8 billion for Amtrak. Istook took the view that their request for major funding increases for Amtrak took precedence over their requests for their districts, and viewed those requests as trying to "double-dip" into the Treasury.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehill.com/news/11242004/istook.aspx |title=Istook derails earmarks=The Hill.com= |access-date=2006-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061031061851/http://www.thehill.com/news/11242004/istook.aspx |archive-date=2006-10-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Istook lost the chairmanship in 2005, in large part because others in the Republican party were still upset over his handling of this issue.

Istook introduced language into an FY2004 federal spending bill that would cut funding for transit authorities that sponsored advertisements contradicting current government policies and laws regarding marijuana. Judge Paul L. Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia later ruled that the "Istook Amendment", as it came to be known, was unconstitutional on grounds that it violated the First Amendment, stating "the government articulated no legitimate state interest in the suppression of this particular speech other than the fact that it disapproves of the message, an illegitimate and constitutionally impermissible reason".<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/gen/10903prs20050126.html American Civil Liberties Union : Justice Department Refuses to Defend Congress in Legal Battle Over Law Censoring Marijuana Policy Ads<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

=== Jack Abramoff ===
Istook received $29,000 in campaign contributions from Abramoff and some of his clients, and wrote letters urging the Bush administration to reject a casino proposal that Abramoff's clients opposed. On January 9, 2006, Istook announced he would give $23,000 in Abramoff-related money that was donated to his re-election campaign or his PAC to the Boy Scouts of America. This is in addition to $6,000 in Abramoff-related donations given to the [[Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation]] in December 2005.<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.normantranscript.com/cnhi/thenormantranscript/opinion/local_story_011002337?keyword=topstory
 |title       = Give tainted money back to donors
 |date        = January 11, 2006
 |publisher   = The Norman Transcript
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130130121536/http://www.normantranscript.com/cnhi/thenormantranscript/opinion/local_story_011002337?keyword=topstory
 |archive-date = January 30, 2013
}}</ref> His congressional campaign paid back $5,126 to Abramoff's [[Sports Suites LLC]], for the use in 2003 of skyboxes by the congressman for an [[American Idol]] concert and a [[Washington Redskins]] game. Istook has denied any connection between the donations and his activities, saying in 2006, "I barely knew the man."<ref>{{cite news
 |publisher = Associated Press
 |url       = http://www.guthrienewsleader.net/news.php?viewStory=2868
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201220452/http://www.guthrienewsleader.net/news.php?viewStory=2868
 |url-status  = dead
 |archive-date = 2009-02-01
 |title     = Istook wages uphill campaign for Oklahoma governor
 |year      = 2007
}}</ref>

Istook is identified in documents filed in June 2008 against his former chief of staff, [[John Albaugh]], as  "Representative 4". According to the documents, Istook called Abramoff in 2003 to thank him in advance for use of one of Abramoff's FedEx Field skyboxes for a fundraising event. Istook asked Abramoff which projects his clients wanted in the upcoming transportation bill. The government filing refers to an Abramoff e-mail saying Istook "had basically asked what we want in the transportation bill", and telling his colleagues at [[Greenberg Traurig]] to "make sure we load up our entire Christmas list". Four of [[Kevin A. Ring]]'s clients later received at least $1 million each in the transportation bill.<ref name="charged">{{cite news
 |url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/06/former_house_aide_charged_in_l.php 
 |publisher=Associated Press 
 |date=June 2, 2008 
 |title=Former House aide charged in lobbying scandal 
 |author=Sam Hananel 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610184509/http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/06/former_house_aide_charged_in_l.php 
 |archive-date=2008-06-10 
}}</ref>
On June 2, 2008, Albaugh pleaded guilty to one count of corruption and conspiracy.

===Ratings===
* 0% by [[NARAL]]
* 92% by the [[Christian Coalition of America|Christian Coalition]]
* 100% by the [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]]
* 0% by [[Peace Action|SANE]]
* 0% by [[League of Conservation Voters]]
* 63% by [[National Taxpayers Union]]
* "A" by [[NRA Political Victory Fund]]
* 40% by [[Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education]]
* 17% by [[National Education Association]]
* 0% [http://www.oklahomarail.org/ Oklahoma Passenger Rail Association]

== 2006 gubernatorial race ==
{{main|2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election}}
[[Image:Oklahoma 2006 gubernatorial election map.svg|thumb|right|350px|Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2006 results map. <span style="color:red;">Red</span> denotes counties won by Ernest Istook, <span style="color:blue;">Blue</span> denotes those won by [[Brad Henry]].]]

On October 3, 2005, Istook announced he would run for governor of Oklahoma against Democratic incumbent [[Brad Henry]].<ref>[http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=91223]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He was immediately the consensus frontrunner for the nomination, as a seven-term incumbent U.S. representative whose district covered most of the Oklahoma City area, the state's largest media market.

In the July 2006 primary, he received 55% of the vote to become the Republican nominee. Oil businessman [[Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.|Bob Sullivan]] was second with 31%.<ref>[http://www.ok.gov/~elections/06pri.html Primary Election Results – July 25, 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218162303/http://www.ok.gov/~elections/06pri.html |date=December 18, 2006 }}</ref>

Henry and Istook faced each other in the November general election. After a heated campaign, Henry defeated Istook, gathering 66.5% of the total vote—the biggest landslide in an Oklahoma governor's race in almost half a century. Istook even lost his own congressional district, as well as a number of areas that normally vote Republican. He only carried the three [[Oklahoma Panhandle|Panhandle]] counties of Beaver, Cimarron and Texas.<ref name="McNutt"/><ref name="Jenkins"/>

Istook's campaign was managed by campaign manager Chip Englander, a political operative from California. National media attention was attracted when it turned out that Jordan Edmund, one of the campaign's workers from California, had been one of the congressional pages who received unwelcome attention in the [[Mark Foley scandal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsok.com/article/2951137/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-11-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124155042/http://www.newsok.com/article/2951137/ |archive-date=2006-11-24 }}</ref>

==Post-congressional career==
Ernest Istook was a distinguished fellow at [[The Heritage Foundation]] and host of the [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] think tank's radio show, "Istook Live".<ref name=Harvard/><ref name="Talkers">{{cite news |date=July 10, 2012 |title=Tuesday, July 10, 2012 |newspaper=Talkers |url=http://www.talkers.com/2012/07/10/tuesday-july-10-2012/ |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929071629/http://www.talkers.com/2012/07/10/tuesday-july-10-2012/ |archive-date=2012-09-29}}</ref><ref name="Entertainment Close-Up">{{cite news |title=Heritage Action for America Launches 'Istook Live!' Radio Show |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=563H-BTR1-JCRR-0094&csi=345185&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=Entertainment Close-Up |date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> Istook contributed opinion columns to a variety of outlets including ''[[The Washington Times]]'', ''[[Human Events]]''<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.humanevents.com/search.php?author_name=Ernest++Istook
 |title       = Ernest Istook
 |work        = Human Events
 |access-date  = 7 March 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110408084359/http://www.humanevents.com/search.php?author_name=Ernest++Istook
 |archive-date = 8 April 2011
}}</ref> ''[[The Huffington Post]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ernest-istook/solutions-for-america-off_b_687797.html |title="Solutions for America" Offered |last1=Istook |first1=Ernest |date=19 August 2010 |work=HuffingtonPost.com |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> and ''[[Newsmax]]''. He has been a talk radio host. He has appeared frequently on national radio programs as a guest host and has filled-in for a number of talk radio hosts including Mark Levin, Jerry Doyle and on "America's Morning News". Istook has also been a guest analyst on national television including appearances on most major news programs.<ref name=Talker>{{cite news|title=Profile: Ernest Istook, Distinguished Fellow |url=http://talkers.com/online/?p=5143 |magazine=Talkers Magazine |date=May 2010 |access-date=7 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628132946/http://talkers.com/online/?p=5143 |archive-date=28 June 2011 }}</ref>

He became a Fellow for the Institute of Politics at [[John F. Kennedy School of Government|Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government]] in early 2010, during which he taught a study group on Propaganda in American Politics.<ref name="Harvard"/> In 2014, Istook joined the Board of Advisors of the [[National Federation of Republican Assemblies]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NFRA Announces National Advisory Board|url=http://www.republicanassemblies.org/nfra-announces-national-advisory-board/|website=National Federation of Republican Assemblies|access-date=28 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530035532/http://www.republicanassemblies.org/nfra-announces-national-advisory-board/|archive-date=30 May 2014}}</ref>  He is a member of the [[Council for National Policy]].

He now teaches History and Political Sciences classes at [[Utah Valley University]] in Orem, UT and practices law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ernest Istook brings abundant experience and insights to UVU. |url=http://www.uvu.edu/profpages/profiles/show/user_id/20466 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717005141/http://www.uvu.edu/profpages/profiles/show/user_id/20466 |archive-date=2017-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Provo Attorney Ernest Istook {{!}} Howard, Lewis & Petersen, P.C.|url=https://www.provolawyers.com/attorney-profiles/ernest-istook/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Howard Lewis & Petersen, PC.}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 2008, Istook was appointed to the National Advisory Board for the national children's charity Operation Kids. He is also an active supporter of the [[Boy Scouts of America]] and served several years as a scoutmaster.<ref name=Harvard/>

Istook and his wife Judy (whom he met through his radio job at KOKC and married in 1973) have five children, two sons and three daughters, and fifteen grandchildren. Istook, who comes from a Southern Baptist background, is now a member of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church).

==Electoral history==

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Oklahoma|5|}}: Results 1992–2004<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=2008-01-10 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184700/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=2007-07-25 }}</ref>
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1992|1992]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Laurie Williams}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |107,579
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |47%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |123,237
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |53%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1994|1994]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |''(no candidate)''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |136,877
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |78%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Tom Keith
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |38,270
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |22%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1996|1996]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|James L. Forsythe}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |57,594
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |27%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |148,362
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |70%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Ava Kennedy
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |6,835
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1998|1998]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|M. C. Smothermon}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |48,182
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |32%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |103,217
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |68%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2000|2000]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Garland McWatters}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |53,275
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |27%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |134,159
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |68%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Bill Maguire
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |5,930
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3%
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2002|2002]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Lou Barlow
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |63,208
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |32%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |121,374
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |62%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Donna C. Davis
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |10,469
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |5%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2004|2004]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bert Smith
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |92,719
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |34%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Ernest J. Istook, Jr.'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |180,430
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |66%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}
{{refbegin}}<nowiki>*</nowiki> Minor candidates notes: In 2000, [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] Robert T. Murphy received 2,658 votes (1%).
{{refend}}

{{Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2006}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.istook.com/ Istook for Governor 2006]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060506013134/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/i000047/ Voting record maintained by the Washington Post]
* {{C-SPAN|24903}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101018203323/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/I/IS001.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Istook, Ernest]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mickey Edwards]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Oklahoma|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Oklahoma's 5th congressional district]]|years=1993–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mary Fallin]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dan Burton]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Republican Study Committee]]|years=1995–1999|alongside=[[Dan Burton]], [[John Doolittle]], [[Sam Johnson]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David M. McIntosh|David McIntosh]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Steve Largent]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Governor of Oklahoma]]|years=[[2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election|2006]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mary Fallin]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dave McCurdy]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former US Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Steve Pearce (politician)|Steve Pearce]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{OKRepresentatives}}
{{Jack Abramoff|subcat=people}}
{{USCongRep-start | congresses= 103rd&ndash;109th [[United States Congress]]es | state=[[Oklahoma]]}}
{{USCongRep/OK/103}}
{{USCongRep/OK/104}}
{{USCongRep/OK/105}}
{{USCongRep/OK/106}}
{{USCongRep/OK/107}}
{{USCongRep/OK/108}}
{{USCongRep/OK/109}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Istook, Ernest}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:American male journalists]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:American radio reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:Baylor University alumni]]
[[Category:Converts to Mormonism from Baptist denominations]]
[[Category:Journalists from Texas]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Oklahoma City University alumni]]
[[Category:Oklahoma lawyers]]
[[Category:Politicians from Fort Worth, Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians from Oklahoma City]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:The Heritage Foundation people]]
[[Category:The Washington Times people]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century Oklahoma politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]