OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday appointed a Tulsa businessman to serve as Oklahoma’s next U.S. senator.
Alan Armstrong, an energy company executive, will serve the remainder of Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s term until January 2027. Mullin resigned Monday night to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Stitt said he selected Armstrong for the post after meeting with President Donald Trump and Senate leadership in Washington D.C.
“Alan’s story reflects the very best of Oklahoma,” Stitt said. “Our values, our work ethic and our pursuit of the American Dream that’s alive and well in the state of Oklahoma. He’s a strong business leader who understands the power of free markets and limited government. He spent his career fighting for Oklahoma’s energy industry and providing affordable, reliable energy to all of America.”
Stitt said Armstrong is “strongly aligned” with Trump on energy policy and he’s the right person to work across party lines and lead discussions on permit reform. Armstrong will use the office as public service rather than political opportunity, the Republican governor said.
Armstrong, 63, is executive chairman of the Williams Board of Directors, an energy company headquartered in Tulsa, and chairs the board at the University of Oklahoma Foundation, which manages donations to the state’s largest university. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from OU.
Armstrong said he has resigned from his position with Williams. It was not immediately clear if he had stepped away from his role at the OU Foundation.
Armstrong signed an affidavit required by state law Tuesday morning indicating that he will not run for the seat in 2026, according to a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office.
“This state is very special to me,” he said. “And the last thing I would want to do is be sitting around complaining about what other people are not willing to step up and do, and try to make our country great and continue to drive better and better policies that allow us to take advantage of our natural resources around the country and be able to connect it to the consumers that deserve the choice.”
Armstrong said “meaningful permit reform” for all forms of energy will be his priority in the Senate. He said the country is lagging in large-scale infrastructure growth, and the federal government’s permitting process is hindering the country’s ability to be competitive. Congress has for years unsuccessfully pursued reform efforts focusing on updating regulations to speed approval for infrastructure projects.
Armstrong said he is ready to support a “Republican agenda” but did not give his positions on specific policy issues.
Armstrong said he met with Trump on Monday and the president strongly supported his appointment.
He was expected to be sworn in Tuesday in Washington D.C.
Armstrong serves as executive chairman of the National Petroleum Council and is a founding member of Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future.
Mullin, first elected to the U.S. House in 2012 and the Senate in 2022, was appointed by Trump to lead DHS and serve in his Cabinet. The U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment Monday night.
He replaces Kristi Noem, who faced criticism for her enforcement of immigration policy. He is set to be sworn in Tuesday.
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford said that “Markwayne leaves large boots to fill,” but he’s grateful that Armstrong, whom he called a friend, is willing to sacrifice his time to serve.
“With Alan’s strong background in energy and an understanding of what powers our economy, he brings real-world experience at a critical time for the American economy,” Lankford said in a statement. “I look forward to working with him to support Oklahoma workers, strengthen our energy independence, and keep costs low for families.”
Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a nation 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations focused on delivering state government news. The Voice maintains full editorial independence. For more stories by Oklahoma Voice go to oklahomavoice.com.
