Politics

Surprise Democrat Defection Helps Markwayne Mullin’s Nomination To Be DHS Secretary Advance To Finish Line

(Sen. Markwayne Mullin/X)

The Senate on Sunday advanced President Donald Trump’s nomination of Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, bolstered by the surprise support of one Democrat who considers the nominee his friend.

The Senate voted 54-37 during a rare Sunday session to invoke cloture on Mullin’s nomination to succeed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, teeing up a final confirmation vote expected Monday or Tuesday, according to The Hill. While Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman‘s “yes” vote was expected, a second Democrat — New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich — also bucked his party to advance Mullin’s nomination in a surprise development.

“This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend. We have a very honest and constructive working relationship,” Heinrich, a third-term member of the upper congressional chamber, wrote in a statement justifying the vote. “We have authored legislation together, such as the Tribal Buffalo Management Act, and we crafted the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill together this year. We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share.”

“I have also seen first-hand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a Secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller,” the New Mexico Democrat added, naming the White House deputy chief of staff long known for his hardline stance on immigration.

“For five years, under this and the previous Trump Administration, I have lacked any constructive relationship with the Secretary of Homeland Security. This is despite my state being home to hundreds of TSA [Transportation Security Administration], CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and Border Patrol constituents and many miles of the U.S./Mexico border,” Heinrich continued, naming three agencies of the DHS.

Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) on why he voted to advance Mullin’s nomination for DHS Secretary and says he will vote to confirm him:

“This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend. We have a very honest and constructive working relationship. We… https://t.co/VMHXd9b9Hm pic.twitter.com/SKZsFZLKKv

— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) March 22, 2026

“I want someone who recognizes the necessity of judicial warrants, as he has. I would like a Secretary who I can call and have a constructive conversation with about my state and the unique terrain that exists in the southwest and the proper mix of structure, technology and personnel necessary to effectively secure our border,” the Democrat went on to say. “For these reasons, I will vote to confirm Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security.”

In December 2025, Mullin and Heinrich worked together to reintroduce the bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act. New Mexico and Oklahoma both have American bison populations numbering in the thousands. Furthermore, the senators’ respective home states have the two highest population percentages of American Indians out of the lower 48 states, according to World Population Review.

“The buffalo is essential to our heritage and must be supported,” Mullin said in a press release published by Heinrich’s office at the time. “I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation that will help Tribes reestablish buffalo herds on reservation lands.”

Mullin, an enrolled member of the Cherokee nation, is the only American Indian member of the Senate, and the first since the late Colorado Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired in 2005.

Fetterman, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, voted Thursday as part of the 8-7 majority to elevate Mullin’s nomination to consideration by the full Senate.

The Pennsylvania Democrat voiced his support for Mullin’s confirmation on the same day Trump announced he was nominating the Oklahoma Republican.

“I’m not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague [Mullin] as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE,” Fetterman wrote in a March 5 post to X.

Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the Homeland Security Committee’s chair, was the only member of his party to join most Democrats in voting against advancing Mullin’s nomination Sunday. Paul also voted against Mullin in his committee’s Thursday vote.

In his opening remarks during Mullin’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, Paul called the Trump nominee “a man with anger issues.” The Kentucky Republican also appeared to make the case that Mullin’s February comments, in which he stated he understood why Paul’s neighbor violently attacked him in 2017, disqualifies him from serving as DHS secretary.

“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force. You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents,” Paul said during the Wednesday hearing.

“I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character,” Mullin said in response to Paul at the time. “I did not say I supported it [the 2017 attack], I said I understood it. There’s a difference.”