Markwayne Mullin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byDan Boren
Personal details
Born
Mark Wayne Mullin[1]

(1977-07-26) July 26, 1977 (age 44)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Christie Rowan
​
(m. 1997)​
Children5
EducationOklahoma State University Institute of Technology (AA)
WebsiteHouse website

Mark Wayne "Markwayne" Mullin (born July 26, 1977) is an American politician, businessman and former professional mixed martial arts fighter serving as the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party. Mullin's district covers about a quarter of the state in its eastern part.

Early life and education

Mullin was born on July 26, 1977, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[2] He graduated from Stilwell High School in Stilwell, Oklahoma.[3] He attended Missouri Valley College in 1996, but did not graduate.[2] In 2010, Mullin received an associate degree in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.[2][4]

Business career

Mullin took over his family's business, Mullin Plumbing, at age 20, when his father fell ill. He also owns Mullin Properties, Mullin Farms, and Mullin Services.[5] He hosted House Talk, a home improvement radio program syndicated across Oklahoma, on Tulsa station KFAQ.[2][6]

U.S. House of Representatives

Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with two of the other (at the time four) Native American Members of Congress, Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Sharice Davids (D-KS), testified in front of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measurers, March 4, 2020
Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with two of the other (at the time four) Native American Members of Congress, Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Sharice Davids (D-KS), testified in front of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measurers, March 4, 2020

Elections

2012

See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma § District 2

In June 2011, incumbent Democratic U.S. Congressman Dan Boren announced that he would retire at the end of 2012.[7] In September 2011, Mullin declared his candidacy for the 2012 elections to the United States House of Representatives to represent Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.[8] Mullin branded himself as an outsider; his campaign slogan was "A rancher. A businessman. Not a politician!"[9]

In the six-candidate Republican primary, Mullin finished first with 42% of the vote; state representative George Faught ranked second with 22% of the vote.[10] In the runoff primary election, Mullin defeated Faught 57%–43%.[11][12]

The 2nd District has historically been a classic "Yellow Dog" Democratic district, but has steadily trended Republican as Tulsa's suburbs have spilled into its northern portion. For this reason, Mullin was thought to have a good chance of winning the election. He defeated the Democratic nominee, former district attorney Rob Wallace, 57%–38%,[13] becoming the first Republican to represent the district since Tom Coburn in 2001,[14] and only the second since 1921.

2016

See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma § District 2

In the June 2016 Republican primary, Mullin defeated Jarrin Jackson by 27 percentage points. In the November general election, he defeated Democrat Joshua Harris-Till by 47 percentage points.[15]

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma § District 2

When he first ran for Congress in 2012, Mullin promised to serve only three terms (six years). But in July 2017, he released a video announcing that he would run for a fourth term in 2018, saying he was ill-advised when he made the promise to only serve three terms.[16]

Tenure

On February 5, 2014, Mullin introduced the bill To revoke the charter of incorporation of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma at the request of that tribe (H.R. 4002; 113th Congress), which would accept the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's request to revoke the charter of incorporation issued to it and ratified by its members on June 1, 1940.[17]

In April 2017, Mullin drew criticism when he was recorded during a town hall meeting telling his constituents that it was "bullcrap" that taxpayers pay his salary. He said, "I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service. No one here pays me to go."[18]

In December 2020, Mullin was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[19] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[20][21][22]

During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Mullin, along with Texas representatives Troy Nehls (a former Sheriff and Army veteran) and Pat Fallon (an Air Force veteran) helped U.S. Capitol Police build barricades and protect the doors to the House chamber from the rioters. He and many of his colleagues were later ushered to a secure location, where he declined offers to wear a mask, in violation of House rules.[23][24] Mullin said that he witnessed the shooting of Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt during the attack, which occurred after she climbed through a barricade leading towards the House Chamber; Mullin's opinion was that the Capitol police officer "didn't have a choice" but to shoot, and that this action "saved people's lives", with members of Congress and their staff "in danger" from the "mob".[25][26][27]

August 2021 Afghanistan visit

On August 30, 2021, during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mullin asked officials of the U.S. embassy in Tajikistan for assistance in going to Afghanistan to retrieve five American citizens. Because the plan involved violations of Tajikistan currency restrictions, the embassy staffers refused. The U.S. State Department had warned Mullin not to try his own rescue of Americans in Afghanistan, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy had both urged members of Congress to avoid travel to Afghanistan during the final days of the U.S. military presence.[28]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches 3 wins 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 2 0

[31]

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–0 Clinton Bonds TKO (punches) XFL April 7, 2007 2 1:27 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win 2–0 Clinton Bonds Submission (armbar) XFL Superbrawl February 3, 2007 2 N/A Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win 1–0 Bobby Kelley Submission (rear-naked choke) XFL November 11, 2006 1 0:46 Miami, Oklahoma, United States

Personal life

Mullin and his wife, Christie, live in Westville, a few miles from the Arkansas border, and have five children.[2] He is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation.[32] Mullin is one of four Native Americans in the 117th Congress. The others are Tom Cole, a Chickasaw[33] of Oklahoma; Yvette Herrell,[34] a Cherokee of New Mexico; and Sharice Davids of Kansas, a Ho-Chunk. Deb Haaland of New Mexico, a Laguna Pueblo, was the fifth.[35] Haaland resigned in March 2021 to become Secretary of the Interior, returning the number of Native Americans in Congress to five.

See also

References

  1. ^ Oklahoma State Vital Records Index
  2. ^ a b c d e "Markwayne Mullin". Roll Call. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Markwayne Mullin Tapped to Give National Republican Address | .Politics". Blog.newsok.com. October 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  4. ^ MULLIN, Markwayne, (1977 - ) Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 1774-Present. Retrieved April 13, 2017
  5. ^ "Markwayne Mullin wins District 2 Congressional seat". KJRH 2. Scripps TV Station Group. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  6. ^ "Meet the Mullin Family". Markwayne Mullin for Congress. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  7. ^ Casteel, Chris (June 7, 2011). "Oklahoma's U.S. Rep. Dan Boren won't seek re-election in 2012". News OK. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "Markwayne Mullin makes Congressional bid official". www.krmg.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  9. ^ Archive of Mullin's campaign site from 2012
  10. ^ "OK District 2 – R Primary Race – Jun 26, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  11. ^ "OK District 2 – R Runoff Race – Aug 28, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  12. ^ State Election Results, Runoff, Oklahoma State Elections Board.
  13. ^ "OK – District 02 Race – Nov 06, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  14. ^ Krehbiel, Mark (November 7, 2012). "Republican Markwayne Mullin voted into 2nd District Seat". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  15. ^ Wingerter, Justin (July 8, 2017). "Coburn will work to oust Mullin after congressman breaks term limit pledge". Oklahoman.com. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  16. ^ Krehbiel, Randy. "Markwayne Mullin to seek fourth term, explains why he's breaking three-term campaign pledge". Tulsa World. Tulsa World. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  17. ^ "H.R. 4002 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  18. ^ Vladimirov, Nikita (April 13, 2017). "GOP rep: 'Bullcrap' to say taxpayers pay my salary". The Hill. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  19. ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  20. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  21. ^ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  22. ^ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  23. ^ Keri Enriquez. "Republican members of Congress refuse to wear masks during Capitol insurrection". CNN. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  24. ^ Beavers, Olivia (January 21, 2021). "How lawmakers trapped in the House stood their ground". POLITICO. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  25. ^ Cathey, Libby; Thorbecke, Catherine; Winsor, Morgan; Sanchez, Rosa (January 7, 2021). "Congressman recalls moment woman was shot inside Capitol building". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  26. ^ Melendez, Pilar; Bredderman, William; Montgomery, Blake (January 8, 2021). "'Didn't Have a Choice': Vet Was Climbing Through Broken Window When She Was Shot Dead". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  27. ^ Beckett, Lois; Ho, Vivian (January 9, 2021). "'She was deep into it': Ashli Babbitt, killed in Capitol riot, was devoted conspiracy theorist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021.
  28. ^ Tyler Pager; John Hudson (August 31, 2021). "Oklahoma congressman threatened embassy staff as he tried to enter Afghanistan, U.S. officials say". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  29. ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  30. ^ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  31. ^ Sherdog.com. "Markwayne Mullin MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  32. ^ "This Cherokee congressman is for Trump – and Indian Country", High Country News
  33. ^ Bogado, Aura (March 1, 2013). "Why Does Congress's Only Cherokee Member Keep Voting Against VAWA?". The Nation. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  34. ^ New Mexico becomes first state to elect all women of color to the House of Representatives
  35. ^ Olmstead, Molly. "Sharice Davids, Deb Haaland Become First Native American Women Elected to Congress". Slate Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byDan Boren Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district 2013–present Incumbent U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byGrace Meng United States representatives by seniority 182nd Succeeded byScott Perry
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