Markwayne Mullin

Markwayne Mullin
Official portrait, 2022
Markwayne Mullin
Born	26 7, 1977
Birthplace	Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Nationality	American; citizen of the Cherokee Nation
Occupation	Politician, businessman, plumber
Known for	Junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma; first Native American U.S. senator since 2005
Education	Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (AAS) Missouri Valley College
Children	6
Website	[https://www.mullin.senate.gov Official site]

Markwayne Mullin (born July 26, 1977) is an American politician, businessman, and citizen of the Cherokee Nation serving as the junior United States senator from Oklahoma since January 3, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Mullin won a special election in 2022 to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Jim Inhofe. Before entering the Senate, he represented Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for five terms, from 2013 to 2023. Mullin holds the distinction of being the first Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate since Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired in 2005, and he is only the second citizen of the Cherokee Nation elected to the chamber, following Robert Latham Owen, who retired in 1925. Born and raised in eastern Oklahoma, Mullin built a successful plumbing business before turning to politics, and he has drawn attention throughout his career for his outspoken style, his advocacy for energy policy and rural issues, and his heritage as a Cherokee citizen.

Early Life

Markwayne Mullin was born on July 26, 1977, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He grew up in the rural communities of eastern Oklahoma as a member of the Cherokee Nation. His family operated a plumbing company, Mullin Plumbing, which was founded by his father. Mullin began working in the family business at a young age, learning the trade that would later form the foundation of his career in business and, eventually, his political identity as a working-class candidate.

Mullin also pursued competitive athletics in his youth. He competed as a mixed martial artist, and records from his amateur fighting career are documented on combat-sports databases. His background in sports and manual labor would become recurring themes in his political campaigns, where he frequently emphasized his roots as a rancher and tradesman from rural Oklahoma.

Growing up in the Cherokee Nation, Mullin has spoken publicly about the influence of his Native American heritage on his worldview. His Cherokee citizenship has been a notable aspect of his public profile, particularly upon his election to the U.S. Senate, which made him the first Native American senator in nearly two decades.

Education

Mullin attended the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, where he earned an Associate of Applied Science degree. He also attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. His educational background in applied technology complemented his work in the family plumbing business, and Mullin has often highlighted his vocational training as evidence of his practical, blue-collar credentials—a contrast he drew with career politicians during his congressional campaigns.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Mullin took over the operation of his family's plumbing company, Mullin Plumbing, which was based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Under his management, the company grew significantly and became one of the largest plumbing operations in the region. His business background became central to his political identity; during his first congressional campaign, he presented himself as a job creator and small-business owner who understood the concerns of working Oklahomans.

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2023)

2012 Election

In 2012, Mullin announced his candidacy for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, which encompasses a large swath of rural eastern Oklahoma. The seat was being vacated by Democratic incumbent Dan Boren, who chose not to seek re-election. Mullin ran on a platform emphasizing fiscal conservatism, limited government, and his experience as a small-business owner. He won the Republican primary and went on to win the general election decisively, flipping the seat from Democratic to Republican control.

Shortly after his election, Mullin was selected to deliver a national Republican address, raising his profile within the party.

Term Limit Pledge and Re-election Campaigns

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. The decision drew criticism from some Oklahoma political figures, including former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, who stated he would work to unseat Mullin over the broken promise. Mullin defended the decision, arguing that he could be more effective with additional experience in Congress. Despite the controversy, Mullin was re-elected in 2018, 2020, and subsequent cycles, consistently winning by wide margins in the heavily Republican district.

January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack

Mullin was inside the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump breached the building in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Reports indicated that Mullin was among the lawmakers who remained inside the chamber during the attack and witnessed the violence firsthand. The shooting death of Ashli Babbitt, a protester who was fatally shot while attempting to breach a barricaded doorway, occurred near the area where Mullin and other members of Congress were present. Mullin later provided eyewitness accounts of the events in media interviews.

Congressional Record

Throughout his tenure in the House, Mullin served on several committees and was involved in legislation related to energy, agriculture, and Native American affairs—issues central to his eastern Oklahoma constituency. His congressional record is documented in the Congressional Biographical Directory and legislative archives. He left the House on January 3, 2023, and was succeeded by Josh Brecheen in Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.

U.S. Senate (2023–present)

2022 Special Election

In early 2022, longtime Oklahoma 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. He took office on January 3, 2023, serving alongside Oklahoma's senior senator, James Lankford.

Mullin's election to the Senate was historically significant. He became the first Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate since Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado retired in January 2005. Mullin was also only the second Cherokee Nation citizen to serve in the Senate; the first, Robert Latham Owen, one of Oklahoma's original senators upon statehood, had retired in 1925.

Legislative Priorities and Activity

As a senator, Mullin has focused on energy policy, frequently arguing that energy production is central to the American economy. In an August 2025 statement from his Senate office, Mullin wrote: "I often say, 'energy is the backbone of our economy.' You cannot make or deliver a product without factoring in energy costs." He has been a vocal supporter of expanded domestic energy production, including oil and natural gas development.

In July 2025, Mullin introduced a resolution calling on federal and state courts to release all information related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, criticizing what he described as a lack of action during the preceding Congress.

Mullin has also maintained a focus on constituent engagement and rural issues in Oklahoma. In February 2026, he visited Cushing High School for a question-and-answer session with students and met with local leaders in the community.

Intra-Party Disputes

Mullin has gained attention for his confrontational style and willingness to engage in public disputes with colleagues, including members of his own party. In February 2026, Mullin publicly criticized Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, calling him a "freaking snake" for opposing what Mullin characterized as crucial votes. In the same episode, Mullin made a controversial remark about Paul's 2017 assault by a neighbor, stating that he understood why the neighbor had attacked him—a comment that drew widespread media coverage.

This was not an isolated instance of Mullin's combative public persona. During his time in both the House and Senate, Mullin has been involved in several high-profile verbal confrontations, a pattern that has made him a frequent subject of political media coverage.

2026 State of the Union Address

In February 2026, Mullin confirmed his attendance at the State of the Union address delivered by President Donald Trump. ICT News reported that Mullin was one of two Indigenous members of Congress—alongside Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas—who confirmed their plans to attend the address. Ahead of the speech, Mullin previewed his expectations, stating his support for policies aimed at "safer streets" and "more money in your pocket."

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. In addition to his plumbing business, Mullin has been involved in ranching, which he has cited as an important part of his connection to rural Oklahoma life.

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. He has been recognized as a significant figure in Native American political representation, particularly upon his entry into the U.S. Senate.

In his youth, Mullin competed in mixed martial arts, and his fighting record is documented on Sherdog, a prominent combat-sports database. His athletic background has been a recurring element of his public image, contributing to his reputation for physical toughness and competitiveness.

Recognition

Mullin's election to the U.S. Senate in 2022 was widely noted for its historical significance in the context of Native American political representation. As the first Native American senator since Ben Nighthorse Campbell's retirement in 2005, and only the second Cherokee citizen to serve in the Senate after Robert Latham Owen, Mullin's arrival in the chamber received coverage from Indigenous media outlets and national press alike.

Early in his congressional career, Mullin was tapped by the Republican Party to deliver a national address, a signal of his rising stature within the party shortly after his first election to the House in 2012.

Mullin's outspoken personality and willingness to engage in public confrontations have made him a recognizable figure in political media. His comments on fellow senators and his eyewitness account of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack have generated significant coverage from outlets including Politico, The Hill, The Guardian, and The Daily Beast, among others.

Legacy

As a sitting senator, Mullin's long-term legacy is still being shaped. However, several aspects of his career have already established him as a notable figure in American politics. His status as the first Native American U.S. senator in nearly two decades has made him a significant figure in the ongoing story of Indigenous political representation in the United States. The gap between the retirement of Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2005 and Mullin's swearing-in in 2023 represented an 18-year absence of Native American representation in the Senate, and Mullin's presence in the chamber has been noted by Indigenous advocacy organizations and media.

Mullin's career trajectory—from tradesman and small-business owner to congressman to senator—reflects a pathway into politics that differs from the legal and policy backgrounds typical of many members of Congress. His emphasis on vocational education and blue-collar work has been a distinctive element of his political brand within the Republican Party.

His confrontational public style, including verbal clashes with colleagues in both parties, has made him one of the more visible and polarizing members of the Senate. Whether this approach will define his legacy or evolve over time remains to be determined as his career in the Senate continues.