Oklahoma Governor’s Senate Appointment Choice Raises Eyebrows

Oklahoma’s Governor, Kevin Stitt, a Republican, is reportedly planning to temporarily appoint Alan Armstrong, a relatively unknown oil executive, to fill the vacancy left by Senator Markwayne Mullin, who has been nominated by President Trump for a position as Secretary of Homeland Security, pending Senate confirmation.

Stitt’s decision comes despite his somewhat strained relationship with Trump. According to sources, Armstrong was chosen for this interim role as Mullin’s term is set to end in January 2027. In the upcoming November election, the winner will take over the Senate seat. Republican Representative Kevin Hahn is widely believed to be the frontrunner for that role.

Reports indicate that Stitt might officially nominate Armstrong soon. For context, Armstrong previously made sizable contributions—amounting to $5,800—in March 2021 to lawmakers who voted against Trump during the impeachment process following the January 6 Capitol riot. Since then, Adam Kinzinger, one of those recipients, has become a vocal critic of Trump, all while remaining a registered Republican.

Interestingly, before the news about his potential appointment, Armstrong did not seem to have much of an online presence, lacking both a Wikipedia page and a personal website. Currently, he serves as the chairman of the board for the Williams company in Tulsa, where he has spent over 30 years developing his career. His bio notes that he now leads a team of nearly 5,000 employees, responsible for a significant portion of the natural gas supply used in the U.S.

As the news unfolds, it’s worth noting that Stitt and Armstrong were scheduled to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, though sources suggest that the governor might reconsider his appointment after this meeting. Stitt’s office has yet to provide comments regarding this situation.