Oklahoma’s governor on Tuesday appointed energy executive Alan Armstrong to serve in the U.S. Senate through the end of the year and finish the term of Republican Markwayne Mullin, the new homeland security secretary.
The choice by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who had pledged to pick a “conservative voice” to fill Mullin’s seat, elevates the chairman and former CEO of Williams Companies, a major pipeline operator based in Tulsa, to the Senate.
“He’s a strong business leader who understands the power of free markets and limited government,” Stitt said.
Mullin, who was confirmed on Monday to take over the embattled Department of Homeland Security, would have been up for reelection in November.
The last nine months of his term will now be filled by Armstrong, who, under Oklahoma law, must agree not to run for a full term this fall. Republican U.S. Rep Kevin Hern quickly announced his candidacy for the Senate seat and has already been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
