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 currently serving as Oklahoma's junior United States senator since 2023. A Republican, he won a special election in 2022 to fill the remainder of Jim Inhofe's term. Mullin's background is in business, which likely informs his approach to policy and governance in the Senate.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1998: Took control of family business

In 1998, Markwayne Mullin took control of his family's plumbing business after his father's health declined.

2006: Began MMA Career

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

2007: Ended MMA Career

Markwayne Mullin's brief professional mixed martial arts career ended in 2007.

June 2011: Boren Announced Retirement

In June 2011, Oklahoma representative Dan Boren announced that he would not run for reelection, setting the stage for Markwayne Mullin's campaign.

July 2011: Mullin Plumbing Became Largest Plumbing Service

By July 2011, Mullin Plumbing had 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 for home improvement syndicated on Saturday mornings on KFAQ.

2011: Mullin Opposes Obama's Policies

In 2011, Markwayne Mullin declared in his initial campaign announcement that he would oppose the Obama administration's policies.

2011: Campaign announcement and call for firing "career bureaucrats"

In 2011, during his initial campaign announcement, Markwayne Mullin called for firing "career bureaucrats" in Washington, D.C. He opposed measures that would increase the national debt of the United States.

December 2012: Mullin Appointed to House Committees

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

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.

January 3, 2013: Sworn into Office

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

January 2013: Mullin Named to House Transportation Subcommittees

In January 2013, Markwayne 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: Cosponsorship of legislation to shift control of federally regulated shorelines

In March 2013, Markwayne Mullin cosponsored legislation that would shift control of federally regulated shorelines from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to states. That month, he urged Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Mullin also opposed the farm bill in 2013.

March 2013: Introduction of legislation to streamline National Environmental Policy Act for wind energy

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

July 2013: Owned Eight Businesses

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

September 2013: Vote against authorizing force in Syria

In September 2013, Markwayne Mullin voted against authorizing force in Syria.

2013: Vote against reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

In 2013, Markwayne Mullin voted against reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

February 2014: Mullin Named to House Natural Resources Subcommittee

In February 2014, Markwayne 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: Criticism of housing migrant children and Obama administration immigration actions

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

2014: Mullin Supported Supreme Court's Decision

In 2014, Markwayne Mullin supported the Supreme Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., which provided religious exemptions for private corporations on certain regulations.

January 2015: Effort to reverse Obama administration regulations on oil and gas

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

September 2015: Sought House Majority Whip Position

In September 2015, Markwayne Mullin began a campaign to succeed Steve Scalise as House majority whip after John Boehner announced his resignation.

November 2015: Mullin Endorses Marco Rubio

In November 2015, Markwayne Mullin endorsed Florida senator Marco Rubio in his campaign for the 2016 presidential election.

November 2015: Introduction of amendment to allow killing of swallows to hasten construction

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

April 2016: Filed to Run for Reelection

In April 2016, Markwayne Mullin filed to run in that year's election, vowing to serve no more than three terms.

May 2016: Criticism of Department of Education's transgender student policy

In May 2016, Markwayne 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 Muhammad Ali Expansion Act

In May 2016, Markwayne Mullin introduced the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act, a bill that would expand the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act to include mixed martial arts.

June 2016: Mullin Considers Fourth Term

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

August 2016: Traveled to Jordan

In August 2016, Markwayne Mullin traveled to Jordan for three days on a classified visit, going through Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training.

August 2016: Mullin Endorses Donald Trump

In August 2016, after Marco Rubio was defeated by Donald Trump in the Republican primaries, Markwayne Mullin endorsed Trump.

December 2016: Named Chair of Native American Coalition

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

January 2017: Mullin Named to House Energy Subcommittee on Health

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

March 2017: Mullin Files Declaration of Candidacy

In March 2017, Markwayne 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 2018: Mullin Described as One of Trump's Most Vocal Backers

By June 2018, The Oklahoman had described Markwayne Mullin as one of Trump's "most vocal backers", particularly on tariffs.

June 28, 2018: Mullin Wins Republican Primary

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

October 2018: Trump Endorses Mullin

In October 2018, Donald Trump endorsed Markwayne Mullin in that year's election.

December 2018: Introduction of bill to ensure funding for the Indian Health Service

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

2018: Praise for the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem

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

2020: Urging tribes to negotiate agreement with Oklahoma over prosecutions

Following the Supreme Court's ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma in 2020, Markwayne Mullin urged tribes to slowly negotiate an agreement with Oklahoma over prosecutions.

2020: Mullin Wins Re-election

In 2020, Markwayne Mullin ran again and won the Republican primary on July 2 and the general election on November 3.

January 2021: Introduction of bill to prevent transgender women in women's sports

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

December 2021: Sold Businesses to CenterOak Partners

In December 2021, Markwayne Mullin sold his businesses to CenterOak Partners, a private equity firm based in Dallas.

December 2021: Mullin Had Nearly $1 Million in Account

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

February 2022: Jim Inhofe Announces Resignation

In February 2022, Oklahoma senator Jim Inhofe announced his resignation, prompting Markwayne Mullin to run in the special election to succeed Inhofe.

February 26, 2022: Mullin to Run for Inhofe's Seat

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

March 2022: Mullin Proposes Expunging Trump's Impeachment

In March 2022, Markwayne Mullin proposed expunging Donald Trump's first impeachment.

January 3, 2023: Mullin Sworn into Office

On January 3, 2023, Markwayne Mullin was sworn into office as a United States Senator.

February 2023: Mullin Named to Senate Committees

In February 2023, Markwayne Mullin was named to the Senate Committees on Armed Services, on Environment and Public Works, and on Indian Affairs, and assigned to the Armed Services Subcommittees.

March 2023: Criticism of Biden's Environmental Protection Agency for promoting electric vehicles

In March 2023, Markwayne Mullin criticized Biden's Environmental Protection Agency for promoting electric vehicles.

November 2024: Blocking promotion of General Chris Donahue

In November 2024, Markwayne Mullin blocked the promotion of Chris Donahue, a United States Army general who commanded the Afghanistan withdrawal operation and was the last international soldier to leave the country. Mullin lifted his hold a week later.

January 2025: Praise of U.S. federal deferred resignation program

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

June 2025: Praise of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

In June 2025, Markwayne 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 follow-up strike in one operation may have constituted a war crime.

November 2025: Statement on Afghan refugees and Special Immigrant Visas

After the shooting of two West Virginia National Guardsmen in November 2025, Markwayne Mullin stated that Afghan refugees had been "dumped" into the United States on Special Immigrant Visas without sufficient federal programs to assist them.

March 5, 2026: Trump Nominates Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security

On March 5, 2026, President Donald Trump fired Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and nominated Markwayne Mullin to succeed her.

March 2026: Nominated as Secretary of Homeland Security

In March 2026, President Donald Trump nominated Markwayne Mullin to succeed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security after firing her.

March 2026: Mullin Works on Proposal to End Shutdown

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