Jim Dunlap was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1996. Prior to that, he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1988 to 1995. Dunlap served as the Senate Republican Floor Leader 2001-2003, and has served in various other leadership positions during his legislative career. He has been the author of major legislation in the areas of workers' compensation reform, crime victims and sentencing, and fraternity hazing.

July 1, 2003, Tom Ridge, U. S. Secretary of Homeland Security, announced the appointment of Dunlap to the Homeland Security Advisory Council's State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee. Secretary Ridge established the committee of 13 individuals to provide advice on increasing America's security from experts representing state and local government.

August 2001, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) announced the appointment of Dunlap as its National Chairman for 2002. As the ALEC National Chairman, Dunlap led the 21 member Board of Directors and was responsible for setting policies and priorities for the 2,400 member, national association of state legislators. Under Dunlap's leadership, the ALEC agenda was dedicated to developing model policies based on the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism and individual liberty.

Dunlap was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He received a Masters in Business Administration from Northeastern State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Drury College. He retuned to Bartlesville upon graduation and helped operate the family construction company, Dunlap Construction which his grandfather started in 1939, and which his dad and brothers still operate today. He is married to Pamela Thompson Dunlap and has three children, Harrison, Preston, and Avery. Dunlap and his family are members of Oakdale Baptist Church in Edmond.

Dunlap currently operates his own governmental affairs consulting companies, Jim Dunlap Consultants, LLC, and Majority Plus, LLC.