Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced on Tuesday that he will appoint Republican energy executive Alan Armstrong to newly confirmed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's U.S. Senate seat.
“Our values, our work ethic and our pursuit of the American dream is alive and well in Oklahoma,” Stitt said. “He’s a strong business leader who understands the power of free markets and limited government. He spent his career fighting for Oklahoma’s energy industry, and providing affordable, reliable energy to all of America.”
Armstrong, a political newcomer who serves as the executive chairman of a natural gas pipeline operator called Williams Companies, is expected to serve out the rest of Mullin's term but must agree to not run for another full term, according to Oklahoma law. He stepped down from his previous role as president and CEO of the company last year.
Trump announced earlier this month that he is backing U.S. Representative Kevin Hern, the House GOP's policy committee chairman and former Republican Study Committee chairman, in the 2026 cycle, clearing the June 16 primary.
Armstrong will serve along Oklahoma's senior U.S. Senator James Lankford.
Mullin, a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter and businessman, represented Oklahoma in the U.S. House for a decade before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2022. Following his confirmation as DHS secretary on Monday evening by a 54-45 vote, he will now run the department charged with carrying out the president's deportation agenda at a politically perilous time.
The department remains partially unfunded, and Republicans are looking to recalibrate their 2026 immigration enforcement message following former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's disastrous tenure, which was marked by infighting with other senior DHS leaders and controversy surrounding the department's contract processes.
 |
Commentaires
Enregistrer un commentaire
Thank you to leave a comment on my site