In a 54-45 vote yesterday afternoon, the United States Senate confirmed Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security. Three senators crossed party lines in the vote; Rand Paul (R-KY) voting against, while John Fetterman (D-PA) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) voting for Mullin.
With Mullin's resignation to take the cabinet position, Governor Kevin Stitt this morning announced his selection of energy executive Alan Armstrong to fill Mullin's seat for the remaining nine months of the Senate term.
Armstrong, stepping down as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Tulsa-based Williams Companies, says he will be focused on achieving permitting reform for large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. Stitt indicated conversations with Senate leadership and the White House led to specific requests for an appointee that could help in this area.
Given Armstrong's limited time as the placeholder for the Senate seat, there is a very short window of time in which he will have ability to act on legislation. Stitt said he chose Armstrong to help work across the aisle to bring movement on this particular area of policy (again, with confirmation from Senate leadership and the Trump administration).
Stitt mentioned transmission line projects during the press conference, in addition to other energy-related issues, which will likely cause ears to perk up among local activists across the state (and region) who have fought against similar projects and proposed wind-energy farms.
You can watch Stitt and Armstrong at the press conference here:
Read more ยปby Muskogee Politico - March 24, 2026 at 09:32AM
Mullin confirmed as DHS Secretary, Stitt appoints Alan Armstrong as replacement
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