U.S. Attorney GeneralPam Bondi (L) swears in Markwayne Mullin as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security as his wife, Christine Mullin, stands by in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tapped energy executive Alan Armstrong to temporarily fill Markwayne Mullin’s Senate seat after he was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday.
Armstrong will fill the vacancy until November, when an election for the position can be held.
“Alan is a proud third-generation Oklahoman, staunch conservative, respected business leader and a devoted family man with an inspiring American Dream story,” Stitt said in a post on X.
“He is entering the U.S. Senate at a critical time for advancing reforms to secure America’s energy future. I have no doubt that his perspective will be influential in moving the needle on permitting reform to unlock American competitiveness and energy affordability for generations to come.”
Armstrong is the executive chairman of a natural gas company in Oklahoma called Williams. He was previously the company’s CEO for 14 years, The Washington Post reported.
Speaking at a news conference announcing his appointment, Armstrong said the position was “an opportunity to go serve when the state’s given you so much.”
“This state is very special to me, and the last thing I would want to do is be sitting around complaining what other people are not willing to step up and do [to] try to make our country great.”
The conservative replaces Mullin, a Republican, meaning the balance of power in the Senate will remain the same until at least November.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., to run for the seat in November.
On Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi swore in Mullin as the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security as his he stood next to his wife, Christine Mullin. The Senate confirmed Mullin to head the department Monday by a vote of 54-45. Two Democrats joined Republicans on the vote, Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.
