TRANSCRIPT
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Dick Pryor: This is Capitol Insider - taking you inside politics, policy, and government in Oklahoma. I'm Dick Pryor with Quorum Call publisher, Shawn Ashley. U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin received approval from a Senate committee on Thursday, sending his nomination to become Secretary of Homeland Security to the Senate floor for confirmation. It's expected he will be confirmed to replace former Secretary Kristi Noem. Mullen was up for reelection this year, but if confirmed, that won't happen, which opens up his U.S. Senate seat. Shawn, the ripple effect of Mullin's nomination is already being seen in Oklahoma.
Shawm Ashley: It is. First District Congressman Kevin Hern has announced he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House but will run for Mullin's seat in the U S. Senate and that has opened the door for some current elected officials to declare their candidacy for Hern's open seat. Current Corporation Commissioner Kim David and State Representative Mark Tedford have announced they plan to run for Hern's seat. David has two years remaining on her term on the Corporation Commission. So, if she is unsuccessful, she will remain there on the Commission. Tedford will not be defending his state House seat. So, if he does not win, he will no longer be an elected official. But that could create an opening on the Corporation Commission, which would have to be filled in a special election next year. And it creates an open seat in the legislature in this year's election that will then have to decided.
Dick Pryor: And there will be more churn to come, to be sure. Governor Kevin Stitt announced he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat, but under law he will have to appoint an interim senator to fill out the remainder of Mullin's term. Have you seen any indications of the kind of person Stitt might be considering for the interim position?
Shawn Ashley: Not specifically. In a television interview, Stitt said he asked President Donald Trump and U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune what kind of person the president needed to fill out that term. He also said he had discussed the opening with Mullin and Oklahoma's other U. S. Senator, James Lankford. On Thursday, Stitt appointed Dustin Hilliary, one of his chief advisors, to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Hilliary was rumored to be on the short list for the U.S. Senate appointment. And he acknowledged in comments to the Lawton Constitution that Mullin and Stitt had approached him about filling the vacancy, but Hilliary said it was not the right time in his life to do so. And to be honest, several of Stitt's appointments have surprised me. So, I would not be surprised if the person he appoints is not on anyone's short list today.
Dick Pryor: And Shawn, the timing of this makes it especially fascinating.
Shawn Ashley: It really does. Candidate filing is April 1st to the 3rd. So, it will be interesting to see who files and for what offices. As I mentioned, Tedford’s state House seat will be open, but he was the only candidate to file for that seat in 2022 and 2024, so it will be interesting see who steps up to attempt to fill that seat. And when Mullin left his Second District congressional seat in 2022 to run to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jim Inhofe, he faced 13 Republicans in the primary and 14 other Republicans ran for his congressional seat. In other words, vacancies like this can create a lot of chaos.
Dick Pryor: Absolutely. It was a quiet week, though, at the legislature. But work on the budget for fiscal year 2027 is an ongoing process. Where does that stand?
Shawn Ashley: President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton said recently the Senate and House appropriations teams are continuing to calculate how much money they have to spend and to review agencies’ budget requests. He said Thursday he feels like they are about two weeks ahead of where they were one year ago. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson and Senate Minority Leader Julia Kurt noted legislative Democrats have not been part of those discussions and have not been updated on where things stand. And there are a lot of pieces of that puzzle to put together, perhaps more than 12 billion.
Dick Pryor: Legislators took a couple of days off for spring break, but with that over, what's coming up next at the Capitol?
Shawn Ashley: Thursday is the deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be heard in their chamber of origin. There are more than 300 House measures that could be considered, and more than 400 Senate measures that could be taken up. Not all of those will be heard, but a lot will, so it will be a very busy week.
Dick Pryor: Thank you, Shawn.
Shawn Ashley: You're very welcome.
Dick Pryor: For more information, go to quorumcall.online. You can find video of Capitol Insider segments on the KGOU You Tube channel. Audio and transcripts are at kgou.org, and look for Capitol Insider where you get podcasts. Until next time, with Shawn Ashley, I'm Dick Pryor.
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