His paternal grandfather, Lyle Boren, served in the U.S. Congress, representing southeastern Oklahoma (Oklahoma's 4th congressional district) from 1937 to 1947. His maternal grandfather, Reuel Little helped found the American Party to support the 1968 presidential campaign of George Wallace. His first cousin, Janna Little, is married to former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI), who was nominated for vice president at the 2012 Republican National Convention to be the running mate of Mitt Romney.