OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s pick to replace former Sen. Markwayne Mullin is already raising eyebrows as new details emerge about his limited political experience and past donations to a prominent critic of President Donald Trump.
The newest U.S. senator, energy executive Alan Armstrong, is considered a relative political unknown despite his extensive business background. His appointment follows President Donald Trump’s selection of Mullin to serve as secretary of Homeland Security, creating a vacancy that Stitt is required to fill temporarily under state law.
According to reports, Armstrong previously donated $5,800 to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and has remained a persistent, vocal critic of the president.
According to NOTUS, Stitt brought Armstrong to Mar-a-Lago before his swearing-in to meet with Trump — where both the appointment and Armstrong’s past ties to Adam Kinzinger were expected to come up.
However, some within the MAGA movement appeared to reach early conclusions about the oil and gas executive, according to a report from The Daily Beast:
“Has anyone told President Trump that the Governor of Oklahoma is bringing a Never Trumper who donated to a rabid anti-Trump Congressman who voted to impeach him after J6 to meet with him?” influencer and activist Laura Loomer, who has 1.8 million followers, wrote on X.com.
“Hey @SenMullin what do you think about your Never Trump replacement?” she added. “Now would be a good time for you to speak up!”
Her post was shared by influencers including Vince Langman, who has 547,000 followers, and Sue Knows Best, who has 114,000 followers, along with dozens of other MAGA accounts with tens of thousands of followers.
Trump ally Roger Stone noted the timing of the donation and accused Stitt of being a “Republican in Name Only.”
A Temporary but High-Stakes Appointment
Under Oklahoma law, the governor must appoint a replacement within 30 days, and the appointee is expected to serve only until voters elect a new senator in November 2026.
The position is designed to be temporary, and appointees are typically expected not to run in the subsequent election — a rule intended to prevent incumbency advantages.
Why It Matters
While the appointment is short-term, it carries political weight:
- It offers immediate influence in the U.S. Senate
- It could shape the broader Republican primary landscape in Oklahoma
The controversy surrounding Armstrong underscores how even interim political decisions are being closely scrutinized for ideological alignment, particularly within Trump’s coalition.
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