{"id":2576563,"date":"2026-03-05T16:36:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-happens-to-mullins-senate-seat-if-confirmed-as-dhs-head\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:37:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:37:43","slug":"what-happens-to-mullins-senate-seat-if-confirmed-as-dhs-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-happens-to-mullins-senate-seat-if-confirmed-as-dhs-head\/","title":{"rendered":"What happens to Mullin&#8217;s Senate seat if confirmed as DHS head"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-happens-to-mullins-senate-seat-if-confirmed-as-dhs-head%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576563&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article explains what could happen in Oklahoma if Senator Markwayne Mullin is confirmed as President TrumpS next head of the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Mullin\u2019s Senate term runs thru January 2029, so his departure would create a vacancy that Oklahoma law seeks to fill via a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-poll-majority-of-americans-want-republican-party-to-control-the-senate-sean-hannity\/\" title=\"LATEST POLL: Majority of Americans Want Republican Party to Control the ... | Sean Hannity\">special election<\/a> during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-workers-face-high-levels-of-harassment-and-abuse-new-poll-shows\/\" title=\"New poll reveals high levels of harassment and abuse faced by poll workers\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Gov. Kevin Stitt would appoint an interim senator to hold the seat until voters elect a replacement, following Oklahoma\u2019s procedures for filling U.S. Senate vacancies.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The 2026 election timeline would have candidate filing from April 1\u20133, with primaries in June and the general election on November 3. If Mullin resigns before those deadlines, the replacement race would appear on the 2026 midterm ballot to serve the remainder of Mullin\u2019s term (expire in 2028).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; If Mullin is confirmed after the filing deadlines, the governor could call a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >separate special election<\/a> with its own timeline. The interim appointee would still serve until voters choose a replacement.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The interim appointee must be from the same party as Mullin for at least five years and must oath publicly not to run when the seat next appears on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Gov. Stitt has signaled he would appoint a \u201csmall government conservative\u201d to support President Trump, and while a current GOP member of the House could be considered, doing so would risk leaving a House seat vacant in a narrow Republican majority.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">What happens to Mullin&rsquo;s Senate seat if confirmed as DHS head<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2524224\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>If Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/markwayne-mullin\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21441\">Markwayne Mullin<\/a> (R-OK) is confirmed as President Donald Trump&rsquo;s next head of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3083\">homeland security<\/a>, Oklahoma law would trigger a special election that will <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/oklahoma\/title-26\/section-26-12-101\/#:~:text=If%20a%20vacancy%20or%20irrevocable,special%20election%20shall%20be%20called.\">likely occur during<\/a> the 2026 midterm elections to fill the remainder of his Senate term.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Mullin, a Republican who was elected to the Senate in 2022 after serving in the House, is midway through a term that runs until January 2029.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4482209\/markwayne-mullin-excited-nomination-homeland-security-secretary\/\">Markwayne Mullin &#8216;excited&#8217; about DHS chief nomination: &#8216;I had to call my dad&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4482114\/democrats-react-kristi-noem-dhs-ouster-markwayne-mullin-nomination\/\">Democrats react to Noem&#8217;s DHS ouster and Markwayne Mullin&#8217;s nomination<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4481852\/brian-mcginnis-assault-charges-protest-hearing\/\">Veteran whose arm was broken in interaction with Capitol Police facing multiple charges of assault<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>When he resigns to join the Cabinet and is confirmed, the vacancy would be handled under <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oklahoma\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"715\">Oklahoma&rsquo;s<\/a> procedures for filling U.S. Senate seats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4481654\/who-are-the-kurds-group-rumored-joining-us-war-iran\/\"><strong>WHO ARE THE KURDS, THE GROUP RUMORED TO BE JOINING THE US WAR IN IRAN?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) will appoint an interim senator to temporarily hold the seat until voters elect a replacement in a special election. The election would coincide with Oklahoma&rsquo;s midterm election if the vacancy occurs in time to meet the state&rsquo;s filing deadlines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The candidate filing period for Oklahoma&rsquo;s 2026 elections runs April 1 through April 3, with primary elections scheduled for June and the general election on Nov. 3.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If Mullin resigns before those deadlines, which could depend on how long his Senate confirmation process takes, the race would likely appear on the 2026 midterm ballot. The winner would serve out the remainder of Mullin&rsquo;s term, which is up for election in 2028, before the seat comes up again for a full six-year term.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Should Mullin be confirmed by Congress after the Oklahoma filing deadline, Oklahoma law allows the governor to call a separate special election and set the timeline for candidate filing and voting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Stitt&rsquo;s interim appointment would hold the seat only until voters select a replacement, and they are required to register with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/IF11907#:~:text=Same%20Party%20Requirements,for%20at%20least%20five%20years.\">the same party<\/a> as the senator who left the vacancy for at least five years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, whoever Stitt taps for the interim position is required to submit an oath to the secretary of state pledging <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/oklahoma\/title-51\/section-51-10\/\">not to file as a candidate<\/a> for the office when it next appears on the ballot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4482026\/trump-ousts-kristi-noem-department-homeland-security-chief-markwayne-mullin-take-place\/\"><strong>TRUMP OUSTS KRISTI NOEM AS DHS CHIEF AND TAPS MARKWAYNE MULLIN TO TAKE HER PLACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stitt confirmed that he would be appointing a &ldquo;small government conservative&rdquo; to serve as interim senator to &ldquo;support President Trump.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A GOP member of the House could be tapped by Stitt, but it is unlikely, as it would leave a GOP House seat empty while Republicans hold a narrow and at-risk majority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mullin&#8217;s seat set for 2026 special election<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2576564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064711802830-e1772741736136.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[75162,75163,75161,75164,37103],"class_list":["post-2576563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-dhs-head-confirmation","tag-filling-vacancies","tag-mullin-senate-vacancy","tag-replacement-process","tag-special-election"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064711802830-e1772741736136.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576563"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576567,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576563\/revisions\/2576567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}