Summary

Markwayne Mullin, born in 1977, is currently serving as U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security.

Prior to becoming Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Mullin served as a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. A member of the Republican Party, Mullin was elected in a special election in 2022 to serve the remainder of then-Senator Jim Inhofe’s term, who retired. Mullin is the first Native American U.S. senator since Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired in 2005. He is also the second Cherokee Nation citizen elected to the Senate.

Before being elected to the Senate, Mullin served as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2023. At the time of his election to Congress, Mullin was the owner of several businesses.

Below is Secretary Mullin’s voting record and public positions on issues important to the Jewish community.

Secretary Mullin has been vocal about the rise of antisemitism on university campuses. He joined a letter directed to the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to hold a hearing on the rise of such incidents and the response of the university administrations towards the phenomenon. Moreover, when referring to campus antisemitism, he stated that “this vile, hateful, and cowardly behavior is completely despicable.”

During a trip to the Middle East in March 2023, then-Senator Mullin emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself assertively against Palestinian terror threats. He emphasized the necessity of Israel not only reacting to threats but also adopting a proactive stance. 

Secretary Mullin supports the Abraham Accords, which he views as a significant step towards regional progress and the stabilization of relationships among countries in the Middle East. He sees these accords as facilitating economic collaboration and a united front against common threats, particularly Iran.

When he was serving in the U.S. House of Representative, opposed the nuclear deal with Iran, as well as UN Security Council Resolution 2334 that claimed that Israel’s settlements have no legal validity. Moreover, then-Rep. Mullin supported the Taylor Force Act, which stated that no American governmental funds shall be given to a Palestinian entity that financially rewards terrorists or their families. He opposes the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and cosponsored the Combating BDS Act of 2017, a bill that aimed to fight discriminatory boycotts that target Israel.