- President Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to serve as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem.
- If confirmed, Mullin’s Senate seat would become vacant before the 2026 midterm elections.
- Under Oklahoma law, Gov. Kevin Stitt must appoint a replacement before March 31, when Mullin is expected to take over as DHS secretary.
- UCO President Todd Lamb has taken political positions in the past that could appeal to Stitt, though there is no confirmation he is being considered for the role.
President Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to serve as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing March 18. If confirmed, Mullin’s seat would become vacant ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Gov. Kevin Stitt must appoint someone to fill Mullin’s seat until the winner of the 2026 election takes office. Stitt said in a statement that he plans to appoint a small-government conservative to the role.
UCO President Todd Lamb is among several Oklahoma Republicans who could be considered because of his statewide political experience and record as a small-government supporter. Lamb served eight years as lieutenant governor and remains active in Oklahoma political commentary as one of the hosts of KFOR’s political talk show, Flash Point.
Lamb, an Enid native, began his political career working on Republican Gov. Frank Keating’s gubernatorial campaign in 1993, according to Ballotpedia. After Keating was elected, Lamb worked as a staffer for four years. He became a member of the U.S. Secret Service in 1998 before leaving in 2002. He was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate representing District 47 in 2004. Lamb later served as lieutenant governor under Mary Fallin from 2011 to 2019. He ran for Oklahoma governor in the 2018 election but lost the Republican primary to Kevin Stitt. Federal campaign records show Lamb donated $1,000 to Markwayne Mullin’s Senate campaign in 2022.
Lamb served as the Small Business Advocate in Fallin’s cabinet, but left in February 2017 after opposing Fallin’s position on tax increases. According to a 2016 report by Oklahoma Watch, during his time in state government he supported vouchers for private schools and assistance for parents’ educational costs. He co-authored and backed a bill requiring women seeking abortions to view an ultrasound beforehand. Lamb also backed State Question 790, which would have allowed the state to use money or property for religious purposes. He supported increased funding for higher education and was named a recipient of the Board of Regents Distinguished Service Award in 2009.
The Independent View reached out to University Communications for comment from Lamb on Mullin’s nomination, but received no reply by the time of publication.
Whoever Stitt appoints to the Senate seat will be required to sign a form stating they will not run for the seat in the November 2026 election. The form is not enforceable by law.
Stitt would appoint a replacement before March 31, when Mullin is expected to take over as DHS secretary. If Lamb were appointed to the Senate seat, he would likely step down as UCO president, and the Board of Regents for the Regional University System of Oklahoma would determine an interim replacement.
