With Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure set to end on March 31 after President Trump sacked her and gave her a new gig as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, all eyes turn to the president’s choice to replace her, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).
The guy is certainly not boring.
He is only the second Mixed Martial Arts fighter to ever serve in Congress. Mullin wrestled in college and then went on to MMA, where he had an undefeated record of 5-0. Believe me, I wanted to find video of him in the ring and bring it to you, the reader, but unfortunately, there do not seem to be any clips available online.
News to me: Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-13) also has a professional mixed martial arts stint on her resume.
Here’s a brief rundown of Mullin’s business and political careers from his official Senate website [emphasis his]:
Senator Markwayne Mullin is a successful business owner, working cow-calf rancher, and proud husband of 28 years to Mrs. Christie Mullin, and together the two are parents to six wonderful children: Jayce, Jim, Andrew, Larra, Ivy, and Lynette.
Mullin was sworn into office on January 3rd, 2023, following ten years of service to Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives. A lifelong Oklahoman, Senator Mullin grew up on his family’s ranch in Westville where he and his family still reside to this day.
A graduate of Stilwell High School, Mullin went on to attend Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship until the age of 20 years old. At that time, Senator Mullin’s father, Jim, fell ill, and Mullin and his recent bride Christie postponed studies to save the family business, Mullin Plumbing.
Here’s how the snotty elitist press treats his successful career. MS NOW producer Kyle Griffin sneered at Mullin’s accomplishments by noting, “Markwayne Mullin looks to be the only currently serving senator without at least a bachelor's degree.”
Yes, Markwayne Mullin is the only Senator without a Bachelor's Degree because at age 20, he took over his father's plumbing company when he became ill and built it into a multi-million dollar business.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 5, 2026
Having a college degree doesn't automatically make you a smart or successful… https://t.co/KlNc73mRyN
Many recent college graduates are struggling to find jobs at Starbucks, but Mullin went on to build multiple successful businesses:
Over the past 28 years, Markwayne and Christie Mullin have expanded Mullin Plumbing to become the largest service company in the region, and along the way founded numerous other successful companies ranging from Mullin Environmental to Rowan’s Steakhouse, the latter a bustling restaurant in the neighboring town of Stilwell and named for Christie’s family.
And you, Kyle, you’re a producer at a failing, widely mocked leftist news outlet? In the words of Shania Twain, “that don’t impress me much.”
Also, Mullin did get what sounds like a pretty impressive — and useful — Applied Science in Construction Technology degree from the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.
Oh.
Meanwhile, the senator is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and is only the second with that background to serve in the Senate. He also sits on numerous committees.
Mullin is strongly aligned with the president’s border policies and his success in shutting down the Joe Biden illegal alien tsunami at our southern border.
But he’s also known for numerous viral exchanges at congressional hearings:
MORE: Clip of Tim Kaine's Reaction to Markwayne Mullin Shredding Him at Hegseth Hearing Was Chef's Kiss
Perhaps his most memorable moment came on November 14, 2023, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing when he challenged Teamsters president Sean O’Brien to a fight.
Mullin was ticked off about O’Brien’s social media posts that deemed Markwayne a “clown” and a “fraud”:
WATCH🚨: GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin Mullin challenges Teamsters boss, Okla., told Sean O'Brien, to fight at Senate hearing: 'Stand your butt up,’ pic.twitter.com/qflCIrU2fT
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) November 14, 2023
More recently, as RedState’s Rusty Weiss reported, he lit into Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as they debated healthcare in a February Senate hearing:
MULLIN: “ACA is unaffordable.”
— Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) February 25, 2026
BERNIE SANDERS: “You’re attacking me.”
MULLIN: “If I cared about your opinion, I would ask you, but I don’t—you’re part of the problem—because you’ve been sitting here longer than I’ve even been alive!” 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ug6ogSwYPr
But the question all inquiring minds want to get an answer to is: Where in the heck did he get the name Markwayne? Turns out it’s a blending of family monikers — those names being Mark and Wayne, of course, who were two of his uncles. Although his mother had put both names on the birth certificate, she had always planned to clean that up in due course, but just never got around to it.
Now it’s stuck.
There you have it. He is certainly an interesting guy. One thing is for sure: his tenure at DHS, assuming he receives Senate confirmation, is unlikely to be boring.
