Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Markwayne Mullin

Discover the career path of Markwayne Mullin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Markwayne Mullin is an American politician and businessman. A Republican, he currently serves as the United States secretary of homeland security since 2026. Prior to this position, he was the junior United States senator from Oklahoma from 2023 to 2026. Before serving in the Senate, Mullin represented Oklahoma's second congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1997: Assumed Control of Mullin Plumbing

In 1997, Markwayne Mullin assumed control of his family's plumbing business, Mullin Plumbing.

1998: Assumed Control of Family Business

In 1998, Markwayne Mullin took over his family's plumbing business.

2006: Professional MMA Fighter

In 2006, Markwayne Mullin began his career as a professional mixed martial arts fighter.

2007: End of MMA Career

In 2007, Markwayne Mullin concluded his career as a professional mixed martial arts fighter.

July 2011: Mullin Plumbing Became Oklahoma's Largest Plumbing Service

By July 2011, Mullin Plumbing had grown to become Oklahoma's largest plumbing service company.

2011: Hosted House Talk Radio Program

By 2011, Markwayne Mullin had begun hosting "House Talk", a call-in radio program focused on home improvement.

2011: Entered House of Representatives Election

In 2011, Markwayne Mullin entered the 2012 United States House of Representatives election for Oklahoma's second congressional district.

2011: Mullin calls for firing "career bureaucrats" in Washington, D.C.

In his 2011 campaign announcement, Mullin called for firing "career bureaucrats" in Washington, D.C.

December 2012: Appointment to House Committees

In December 2012, Mullin was appointed to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as on Natural Resources by the Republican Steering Committee.

2012: Operated Oklahoma Fight Club

By 2012, Markwayne Mullin operated the Oklahoma Fight Club, a jujutsu and mixed martial arts school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

2012: Elected to the United States House of Representatives

In 2012, Markwayne Mullin was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Oklahoma's second congressional district, defeating Rob Wallace.

January 3, 2013: Sworn into Office

On January 3, 2013, Markwayne Mullin was sworn into office as a U.S. Representative.

January 2013: Named to House Transportation Subcommittees

In January 2013, Mullin was named to the House Transportation Subcommittees on Water Resources and Environment, on Highways and Transit, on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, on Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs, and on Water and Power.

March 2013: Mullin cosponsors legislation to shift control of federally regulated shorelines

In March 2013, Mullin cosponsored legislation that would shift control of federally regulated shorelines from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to states. He also urged Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

July 2013: Owned Eight Businesses

According to The Oklahoman, by July 2013, Markwayne Mullin owned eight businesses.

September 2013: Mullin opposes United States intervention in Syria

In September 2013, Mullin opposed United States intervention in Syria and voted against authorizing force.

2013: Elected as U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's Second Congressional District

In 2013, Markwayne Mullin became the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's second congressional district.

2013: Mullin introduces legislation to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act for wind energy

In 2013, Mullin introduced legislation to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act for wind energy.

2013: Mullin votes against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act

In 2013, Mullin voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. He also cosponsored the Lumbee Fairness Act, which gave federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

February 2014: Named to House Natural Resources Subcommittee

In February 2014, Mullin was named to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

April 8, 2014: Announced Reelection Campaign

On April 8, 2014, Markwayne Mullin announced that he would seek reelection.

2014: Reelected to the House of Representatives

In 2014, Markwayne Mullin was reelected as U.S. Representative.

2014: Mullin Criticizes Obama administration's actions regarding unaccompanied migrant children

In 2014, Mullin criticized the housing of unaccompanied migrant children at Fort Sill and condemned the Obama administration's actions at the onset of an immigration crisis.

2014: Mullin supports Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

In 2014, Mullin supported the Supreme Court decision Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., which gave private corporations religious exemptions from certain regulations.

September 2015: Boehner Resignation and Leadership Discussions

In September 2015, House Speaker John Boehner announced his resignation, leading to discussions over party leadership, with Mullin campaigning to succeed Steve Scalise as House majority whip.

2015: Mullin introduces amendment to allow killing of swallows to hasten construction

In 2015, Mullin introduced an amendment to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act that would allow the killing of swallows, a protected species in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, to hasten construction.

2015: Mullin seeks to reverse Obama administration regulations on oil and gas

In 2015, Mullin sought to reverse Obama administration regulations on oil and gas.

April 2016: Filed to Run in That Year's Election

In April 2016, Mullin filed to run in that year's election, stating he would not renege on his campaign vow to serve no more than three terms.

May 2016: Mullin criticizes Department of Education's policy on transgender students

In May 2016, Mullin criticized the Department of Education and the Department of Justice's Dear Colleague letter on transgender students, arguing that transgender girls should not use girls' restrooms in public schools.

May 2016: Mullin introduces the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act

In May 2016, Mullin introduced the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act, a bill to expand the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act to include mixed martial arts, which would force promotion companies to share financial information with fighters and establish an independent ranking system.

June 2016: Considering a Fourth Term

In June 2016, Markwayne Mullin did not definitively state whether he would run for a fourth term in Congress.

December 2016: Named Chair of Trump's Native American Coalition

In December 2016, president-elect Donald Trump named Markwayne Mullin the chair of his Native American Coalition.

2016: Reelected to the House of Representatives

In 2016, Markwayne Mullin was reelected as U.S. Representative.

January 2017: Named to House Energy Subcommittee on Health

In January 2017, Mullin was named to the House Energy Subcommittee on Health.

March 2017: Filing a Declaration of Candidacy

In March 2017, Mullin filed a declaration of candidacy with the FEC after being informed that he must "disavow" further fundraising or notify it that he would be a candidate in the 2018 election.

June 28, 2018: Winning the Republican Primary

On June 28, 2018, Mullin won the Republican primary election.

December 2018: Mullin introduces bill to ensure Indian Health Service funding during government shutdowns

In December 2018, amid a government shutdown, Mullin introduced a bill to ensure that the Indian Health Service would remain funded during shutdowns.

2018: Reelected to the House of Representatives

In 2018, Markwayne Mullin was reelected as U.S. Representative.

2018: Mullin praises the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem

In 2018, Mullin praised the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

2020: Reelected to the House of Representatives

In 2020, Markwayne Mullin was reelected as U.S. Representative.

2020: Re-elected to Congress

In 2020, Mullin was reelected to Congress, winning the Republican primary on July 2 and the general election on November 3.

2020: Mullin urges tribes to negotiate agreement with Oklahoma after McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling

In 2020, after the Supreme Court ruled in McGirt v. Oklahoma that the domain of the Muscogee Nation was Indian country, Mullin urged tribes to negotiate an agreement with Oklahoma over prosecutions.

January 2021: Mullin introduces a bill to prevent transgender women from participating in women's sports

In January 2021, Mullin and Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard introduced a bill to prevent transgender women from participating in women's sports.

December 2021: Campaign Finance Report

By December 2021, Mullin's campaign finance reports indicated that he had nearly $1 million in his account.

December 2021: Sold Businesses to CenterOak Partners

In December 2021, Markwayne Mullin sold his businesses to CenterOak Partners, while his family continued to operate the plumbing business.

February 2022: Ran in Special Election to Succeed Jim Inhofe

In February 2022, after Oklahoma senator Jim Inhofe announced his resignation, Markwayne Mullin ran in the special election to succeed him and won.

February 26, 2022: Announcing Senate Candidacy

On February 26, 2022, after Jim Inhofe announced his resignation, Mullin announced on Twitter that he would run for Inhofe's seat in the Senate.

July 2022: Mullin criticizes Biden administration's immigration policies in letter

In July 2022, Mullin sent a letter to secretary of homeland security Alejandro Mayorkas and acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tae Johnson criticizing the Biden administration's "policies of amnesty, catch and release, and low security".

August 2022: Mullin supports a federal ban on abortion

In August 2022, Mullin stated during a televised debate that he supported a federal ban on abortion without exceptions.

2022: Mullin praises Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. EPA

In 2022, Mullin objected to the EPA's Clean Water Rule and praised the Supreme Court's ruling in West Virginia v. EPA limiting the Clean Air Act.

January 3, 2023: Sworn into Office

On January 3, 2023, Mullin was sworn into office as a United States Senator. He became the first tribal citizen to serve in the Senate since 2005 and the second member of the Cherokee Nation to serve in the Senate after 1925, and the only senator in the 118th Congress without a bachelor's degree.

February 2023: Named to Senate Committees

In February 2023, Mullin was named to the Senate Committees on Armed Services, on Environment and Public Works, and on Indian Affairs. He was also assigned to the Armed Services Subcommittees on Airland, on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, and on Readiness and Management Support.

2023: Elected as U.S. Senator from Oklahoma

In 2023, Markwayne Mullin served as the junior United States Senator from Oklahoma.

2023: Mullin criticizes the EPA for promoting electric vehicles

In 2023, Mullin criticized the EPA for promoting electric vehicles.

2024: Mullin blocks promotion of General Chris Donahue

In 2024, Mullin blocked the promotion of Chris Donahue, a United States Army general who commanded the U.S. troop withdrawal operation from Afghanistan. He lifted the hold a week later.

June 2025: Mullin Praises U.S. Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites

In June 2025, Mullin praised U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as ending a "forever war" and strikes on alleged drug traffickers as "proactive", dismissing concerns that a followup strike in one operation might have been a war crime.

November 2025: Mullin comments on Afghan refugees after West Virginia National Guardsmen shooting

In November 2025, after the shooting of two West Virginia National Guardsmen, Mullin said that Afghan refugees had been "dumped" into the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas without sufficient federal programs to assist them.

2025: Mullin Praises U.S. federal deferred resignation program

In 2025, Mullin praised the U.S. federal deferred resignation program.

March 5, 2026: Nominated for Secretary of Homeland Security

On March 5, 2026, President Donald Trump fired Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and nominated Mullin to succeed her. His nomination occurred amid a shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

March 2026: Nominated and Confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security

In March 2026, President Donald Trump nominated Markwayne Mullin to succeed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, and Mullin was subsequently confirmed by the Senate and sworn in.

March 2026: Working on Proposal to End Shutdown

In March 2026, The New York Times reported that Mullin had been working with New Jersey representative Josh Gottheimer on a proposal to end a shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

March 24, 2026: Sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security

On March 24, 2026, Mullin was sworn in as secretary of homeland security by Attorney General Pam Bondi. He became the first member of the Cherokee Nation to serve in the Cabinet of the United States.