OKLAHOMA CITY — President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin for the position of Homeland Security secretary has created an unforeseen opening in the U.S. Senate from the reliably conservative state.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will have the authority to select Mullin’s successor should he vacate his Senate position, according to state law. In a Thursday statement, Stitt indicated he plans to choose “a strong, small government conservative voice to support President Trump.”
Mullin had not served a complete six-year Senate term, having won election in 2022 to complete the remaining time left by the late Senator Jim Inhofe, who resigned before his term ended.
The person Stitt selects will serve only temporarily in the Senate role. State legislation prevents the appointee from seeking election in the upcoming race scheduled for November, a provision lawmakers created to eliminate any incumbency benefits.
The open Senate position in Oklahoma is expected to trigger a cascade of political movements throughout the state. Potential candidates being discussed include Representatives Kevin Hern from Tulsa and Stephanie Bice from Oklahoma City, along with former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, whom Mullin beat in a Republican primary runoff during 2022.
The three-day candidate filing window opens April 1st. Republican candidates are anticipated to have a significant advantage in maintaining party control of the seat.
