President Donald Trump’s move to nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin to run the Department of Homeland Security Thursday set off an immediate sprint for the soon-to-be-open Oklahoma Senate seat.
Rep. Kevin Hern will soon launch a bid for Senate, a source familiar with the matter told NOTUS. Rep. Stephanie Bice is also considering a run for Senate, per a source familiar with the matter.
Sen. James Lankford told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday that Mullin would “do a great job” as DHS secretary and didn’t indicate any knowledge or endorsement of a clear successor.
“That I don’t know yet,” Lankford said when asked who he thought should take the seat. “Yeah, we got a ways to go on that one, but it’ll be quick.”
Under Oklahoma law, Gov. Kevin Stitt will appoint a successor to Mullin, but whoever that successor is must sign an affidavit promising not to run for the seat in November’s election.
Some names Republicans are floating as a possible temporary appointment to the position are Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, former state Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating, former Attorney General John O’Connell and longtime Stitt adviser Donelle Harder.
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