Oklahoma Gov. Stitt Appoints Energy Executive Alan Armstrong to Temporarily Fill Mullin’s U.S. Senate Seat
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on March 24 appointed Alan Armstrong, executive chairman and former CEO of Tulsa-based Williams Companies, to serve out the remainder of Republican Markwayne Mullin’s U.S. Senate term through the end of 2026 after Mullin was confirmed as Homeland Security secretary. State law requires Armstrong, who has never held elected office, to pledge not to run for the full term in November, effectively making him a caretaker senator while the race to permanently fill the deep-red seat moves to the campaign trail. Republican Rep. Kevin Hern quickly launched his Senate bid and touted an endorsement from President Donald Trump, positioning himself as the early favorite in the fall contest. Armstrong is a longtime Stitt donor and a major natural-gas pipeline executive, and former Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. said his expertise is particularly relevant as the Iran war disrupts global energy flows and gas markets. The appointment underscores how Trump’s cabinet shuffle at DHS is rippling into Senate membership and highlights the growing presence of fossil-fuel industry leaders in key federal posts at a moment of volatile energy prices.
📌 Key Facts
- Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Williams Companies executive chairman and former CEO Alan Armstrong to Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate seat on March 24, 2026.
- Armstrong will serve only through the end of the year and, under Oklahoma law, must agree not to run for the full term in November.
- The seat was vacated when Sen. Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as Homeland Security secretary, and Rep. Kevin Hern has already entered the race with President Trump’s endorsement.
- Williams Companies employs about 5,800 people and focuses on natural-gas collection, storage and transportation, giving Armstrong deep industry ties as the Iran war rattles global energy markets.
- Armstrong has donated the legal maximum of $8,500 to Stitt’s campaigns since 2018, and allies describe him as an 'even-tempered' consensus-builder rather than an ideological firebrand.
📊 Relevant Data
Oklahoma's oil and natural gas industry contributed $60.3 billion to the state's GDP in FY2024, accounting for 23% of the total GDP.
Economic Impact | Oklahoma Energy Resources Board — Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
The Iran war has led to the suspension of almost a fifth of global crude oil and natural gas supply, contributing to surges in oil prices.
Iran war threatens prolonged impact on energy markets as oil prices rise — Al Jazeera
The Iranian population in the U.S. grew more than fourfold from 1980 to 2024, reaching approximately 750,000 Iranian Americans, with many arriving after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
In the US, households in majority-Black census tracts spend 5.1% of their income on energy, compared to 3.2% for households in majority-White tracts, based on 2025 data.
Black families are the hardest hit by high energy costs — UPI
The US unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in February 2026, with job losses of 92,000, amid economic pressures from the Iran war including rising energy costs.
Analysis: Tough jobs report puts Trump's Iran war plans to the test — CNBC
Immigrants constitute 6% of Oklahoma's residents and 8% of its labor force as of recent data, contributing significantly to sectors including energy.
Immigrants power Oklahoma's economy. State Question 832 can ensure they earn fair wages — Oklahoma Policy Institute
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time