 First elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 1998, Coffee was re-elected to without opposition in 2006.Coffee served as one of two Co-President Pro Tempores of the Oklahoma Senate during the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions and 41st President Pro Tempore for a one-month term because of a tied Senate membership.After the 2008 elections gave the Republican caucus of the Oklahoma Senate outright control of the chamber on November 4, 2008, the caucus elected Coffee as the President Pro Tempore on November 6, 2008.