Markwayne Mullin: From Oklahoma Roots to the United States Senate

Markwayne Mullin, born on July 26, 1977, is an American politician, businessman, and member of the Cherokee Nation. Since January 3, 2023, he has served as the junior United States Senator from Oklahoma. A Republican, Mullin was elected in a 2022 special election to fill the seat vacated by Jim Inhofe's retirement. Prior to his Senate service, he represented Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms (2013-2023).

Early Life and Background

Mullin was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in the rural communities of eastern Oklahoma. His family operated Mullin Plumbing, a company founded by his father. Mullin's upbringing within the Cherokee Nation has shaped his worldview. He grew up in Westville, Oklahoma, a small farming community in Adair County, near the Cherokee Nation capitol of Tahlequah. In Adair County, Mullin explained, "everyone around you was Cherokee."

Mullin graduated from Stilwell High School. He attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship until he was 20 years old.

Business Career

Before entering politics, Mullin took over his family's plumbing business, Mullin Plumbing, based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Under his leadership, the company expanded significantly, becoming one of the largest plumbing operations in the region. The business remains successful today, even after Mullin's entry into politics.

Early Political Career

In 2012, Mullin announced his candidacy for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district. The seat was open due to the retirement of Democratic incumbent Dan Boren. Running on a platform of fiscal conservatism, limited government, and his experience as a small-business owner, Mullin branded himself as an outsider, using the slogan "A rancher. A businessman."

During his initial campaign, Mullin pledged to serve no more than three terms in the House. However, in 2017, he announced his intention to seek a fourth term, breaking that pledge.

Mullin's election was part of a trend where the historically "Yellow Dog" Democratic constituency in the district shifted towards the Republican Party.

Tenure in the House of Representatives (2013-2023)

Mullin served in the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms, beginning in 2013. Throughout his tenure, he served on several committees and was involved in legislation related to energy, agriculture, and Native American affairs, issues central to his eastern Oklahoma constituency.

Key Policy Positions and Actions in the House

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): He voted against renewing the Violence Against Women Act in 2013 because he disagreed with its LGBTQ provisions.
Tribal Sovereignty and Energy Production: In 2016, he disputed a Reuters article that quoted him as advocating for the relaxation of federal regulations so tribes could allow private mineral exploration on their lands.
Indian Health Services: Mullin introduced legislation to fund Indian Health Services to keep it running during government shutdowns.
Stigler Act Amendment: He cosponsored the Stigler Act amendment, removing a requirement that members of the Five Civilized Tribes be at least one-half Indian blood for their lands to be held in "restricted fee" status.
Not Invisible Act of 2019: He also cosponsored the Not Invisible Act of 2019, which established an advisory committee to combat violence on tribal lands.
Defense of Trump: Mullin legislation would expunge Trump Jan. 6 impeachment.

Controversies in the House

In April 2017, Mullin drew criticism when he was recorded during a town hall meeting telling his constituents that it was "bullcrap" that taxpayers pay his salary. He said, "I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service."

The 117th United States Congress

Markwayne Mullin was a member of the House during the 117th Congress, which began on January 3, 2021, and ended on January 3, 2023. Key legislation considered during this period included:

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: This bill provided funding for infrastructure projects, Amtrak, bridge repairs, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and clean energy upgrades.
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: This act provided economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including funding for vaccinations, school reopenings, relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: This bill addressed climate change, healthcare costs, and tax enforcement.

Election to the U.S. Senate

In early 2022, Senator Jim Inhofe announced his intention to resign before the end of his term, triggering a special election. Mullin entered the race and won the Republican primary before prevailing in the November 2022 special election. In a field of 13 candidates that included Scott Pruitt and Nathan Dahm, Mullin received the most votes, with 44%, but short of the 50% required to avoid a runoff. He faced former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon in the runoff.

Mullin's election to the Senate was historically significant, as he became the first Native American to serve in the Senate since Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado retired in January 2005. He is the second Cherokee Nation citizen to ever serve in the chamber.

Tenure in the Senate

As a senator, Mullin has focused on energy policy, arguing that energy production is central to the American economy. He has also maintained a focus on constituent engagement and rural issues in Oklahoma.

Key Policy Positions and Actions in the Senate

Energy Policy: Mullin has frequently argued that energy production is central to the American economy.
Constituent Engagement: Mullin has maintained a focus on constituent engagement and rural issues in Oklahoma.
Abortion: Mullin supports making abortion illegal in all circumstances, including cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is at risk.
Title IX Protections: Representative Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Protect Women's Sports Act, a bill to define Title IX protections on the basis of an individual's biological sex, making it a violation for institutions that receive federal funding to "permit a person whose biological sex at birth is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls."

Controversies in the Senate

Mullin has gained attention for his confrontational style and willingness to engage in public disputes with colleagues, including members of his own party.

Clash with Teamsters President Sean O'Brien

On March 8, 2023, Mullin accused Teamsters president Sean O'Brien of "intimidation" during a Senate HELP Committee hearing on the PRO Act, claiming that O'Brien was forcing union members to pay dues and alleging that union leaders had attempted to unionize his plumbing business. When Mullin asked about O'Brien's salary and compared it to what he claimed UPS drivers made, on average, in 2019, O'Brien responded, "that's inaccurate," and told Mullin he simply "negotiates the contract." O'Brien then said that Mullin's questioning was "out of line," to which Mullin responded, "shut your mouth." Mullin then challenged O'Brien to a fight, saying, "We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here" and demanding that O'Brien "stand [his] butt up." This came after Mullin read aloud a tweet of O'Brien's, posted in June, in which he called Mullin a "cowboy," told him to "quit the tough guy act," and invited Mullin to find him "anyplace, anytime." After Mullin stood up from his seat and began moving toward O'Brien, Sanders broke up the argument, saying: "No, no, sit down! Sit down!"

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On November 15, Mullin justified his actions in an interview, saying: "It's silly. It's stupid. Every now and then, you need to get punched in the face".

Attempted Afghanistan Trip

In August 2021, Mullin faced scrutiny for attempting to travel to Kabul, Afghanistan, against the State Department's advice, during the U.S. military's withdrawal from the country. Mullin sought permission from the Defense Department to continue to Kabul, Afghanistan, to evacuate U.S. citizens out of Afghanistan. He was in the process of evacuating 124,000 people out of Afghanistan as Taliban forces retook the country. He traveled to the U.S. embassy in Tajikistan and asked officials there for immediate assistance in entering Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for the same purpose. Dushanbe is 150 miles (242 km) north of Kunduz, Afghanistan. Because Mullin planned to bring in a large sum of money for the helicopter rental, the plan was deemed in violation of Tajikistan's currency importation restrictions. Embassy staffers therefore refused to help.

Support for Trump's Policies

Mullin voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill championed by the Trump administration after it passed the House.

Personal Life

Mullin and his wife have six children. The family has resided in eastern Oklahoma, where Mullin has maintained ties to his ranching and business operations. Mullin is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and his Native American identity has been a prominent aspect of his public life and political career.

Mullin was inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. Mullin has remained active in the wrestling community since his retirement from the sport, continuing to coach his children and other young athletes in wrestling tournaments across the country on weekends through today.

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