Markwayne Mullin

Markwayne Mullin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded by Dan Boren
Personal details
Born (1977-07-26) July 26, 1977
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Christie
Residence Westville, Oklahoma
Alma mater Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Occupation Plumber, rancher
Religion Pentecostal
Website mullin.house.gov

Markwayne Mullin (born July 26, 1977) is an American politician and businessman who has been the United States Representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district since 2013. He owns several businesses, including Mullin Plumbing, which he took over from his father when he was 20 years old. Mullin, a member of the Republican Party, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2012 elections, succeeding Dan Boren.

He is a former professional mixed martial arts fighter.[1]

Early life, education, and business career

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.[2]

Mullin took over the family business, Mullin Plumbing, from his father at age 20, when his father fell ill.[3] When Mullin took over the business, they had six employees and had over $500,000 in debt. He expanded the company into a statewide business with more than 100 workers.[4] Mullin owns several other businesses, including Mullin Properties, Mullin Farms, and Mullin Services.[5] Mullin received his Associate in Applied Science in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in 2010.[2] He hosted House Talk, a home improvement radio program based in Tulsa station KFAQ and syndicated across Oklahoma.[2][6]

Despite describing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as a "horrible waste of tax dollars", Mullin's plumbing business took approximately $370,000 of government funds from that program. These monies were distributed to projects which were funded by the 2009 act, and were not paid directly to Mullin or any of his subsidiary companies.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 election

Incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman Dan Boren decided to retire in 2012.[8] Mullin declared his candidacy for the 2012 elections to the United States House of Representatives to represent Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in September 2011. In the six-candidate Republican primary, Mullin ranked first with 42% of the vote, failing to reach the 50% threshold. State Representative George Faught ranked second with 22% of the vote.[9] In the run-off primary election, Mullin defeated Faught 57%–43%.[10][11]

The second has historically been a classic "Yellow Dog" Democratic district. However, it has steadily trended Republican as Tulsa's suburbs have spilled into the northern portion of the district. Additionally, it has always had a strong social conservative tint. For these reasons, Mullin was thought to have a good chance of winning the election. In the general election, Mullin defeated Democrat Rob Wallace, a former District Attorney, 57%–38%.[12] He became the first Republican to represent the district since Tom Coburn in 2001,[13] and only the second since 1921.

Tenure

Mullin does not consider himself a traditional politician; his campaign slogan was "A rancher. A businessman. Not a politician!"

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 request of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to revoke the charter of incorporation issued to that tribe and ratified by its members on June 1, 1940.[14]

Committee assignments

Source:[15]

Personal life

Mullin is Pentecostal. He and his wife, Christie, live in Westville, a few miles from the Arkansas border, and have five children.[2][16] He is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, and is one of two Native Americans in the 113th Congress. The other Native American is fellow Oklahoma Republican Tom Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation.[17]

Mullin is a former professional mixed martial arts fighter and is listed by the Sherdog Fight Finder has having a 3-0 professional record.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Sweating Out Their Differences". The New York Times. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 November 7, 2012 (1977-07-26). "Markwayne Mullin". Roll Call. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  3. 1 2 "Markwayne Mullin Tapped to Give National Republican Address | .Politics". Blog.newsok.com. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  4. ↑ Talley, Tim (November 7, 2012). "Republican Mullin wins eastern Okla. US House seat". seattlepi.com. Hearst Newspapers. Associated Press. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Markwayne Mullin wins District 2 Congressional seat". KJRH 2. Scripps TV Station Group. November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Meet the Mullin Family". Markwayne Mullin for Congress. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Okla. GOP candidate Mullin got $370K in stimulus". Cherokeephoenix.org. 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  8. ↑ "Markwayne Mullin makes Congressional bid official". www.krmg.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  9. ↑ "OK District 2 – R Primary Race – Jun 26, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  10. ↑ "OK District 2 – R Runoff Race – Aug 28, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  11. ↑ State Election Results, Runoff, Oklahoma State Elections Board.
  12. ↑ "OK – District 02 Race – Nov 06, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  13. ↑ Krehbiel, Mark (November 7, 2012). "Republican Markwayne Mullin voted into 2nd District Seat". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  14. ↑ "H.R. 4002 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  15. ↑ http://grandlakenews.com/news/article_4950afd8-a1d4-5748-a371-c52039daebd3.html
  16. ↑ Margot Peppers (August 30, 2013). "Oklahoma congressman Markwayne Mullin and his wife reunite twins separated at birth by adopting them | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  17. ↑ Aura Bogado on March 1, 2013 – 12:11 PM ET (2013-03-01). "Why Does Congress's Only Cherokee Member Keep Voting Against VAWA?". The Nation. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  18. ↑ Josh Gross (May 2, 2016). "How the Ali Act could upset the power balance between UFC and its stars" The Guardian". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-02.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Dan Boren		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district
2013–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Luke Messer
R-Indiana		 United States Representatives by seniority
340th 		Succeeded by
Patrick Murphy
D-Florida
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