Mullin is pick to lead Homeland Security; opens Oklahoma senate seat

President Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to announce Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin is his choice to replace Secretary Of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Sen Mullin – if confirmed by the Senate – would take over the position on March 31. The White House said it will pursue Mullin’s Senate confirmation as quickly as possible.

With the announcement of Mullin’s move, it would leave one of Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senate seats vacant. Sen. Mullin was up for re-election in 2026, so there will be no reason to have a special election to fill the vacancy. Gov. Stitt will appoint someone to fill the open seat until the elections in November and the new senator is sworn into office.

In May 2021, the Oklahoma legislature passed SB 959, which allows the governor to appoint a temporary successor to a vacant U.S. Senate seat. The bill also ensures the appointee is from the same political party as the previous member and the appointee is not permitted to run for the vacancy in the regular election and cannot run for the office once the special term is fulfilled.

You are going to hear lots of rumors and names thrown around as to who is going to run for this seat. It’s all going to happen really fast as filing for this opening is April 1-3.