The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to proceed with the confirmation of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as the next homeland security secretary by a vote of 8-7, as two senators crossed party lines in their votes.
Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against, bucking the confirmation of Mullin after sparring with the nominee on Wednesday over past comments he made regarding an assault on Paul. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted to advance Mullin’s nomination as the only Democrat to do so.
Mullin’s nomination will now move to a full Senate floor confirmation vote. He needs a majority to be confirmed.
Senators who crossed party lines
Fetterman explained his “aye” vote on social media, saying he approached Mullin’s confirmation with an “open mind,” calling the Oklahoma senator a colleague and friend.
“We need a leader at DHS,” Fetterman said. “We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat has been known as a political maverick, notably voting with Republicans to fund the government in November 2025 when his party demanded the extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies.
Fetterman had urged President Donald Trump in January to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis at the hands of federal immigration officers.
Paul did not explain his “no” vote during the Thursday committee meeting but posted on social media prior to the vote that he was against Mullin’s nomination.
“Endorsing political violence should disqualify anyone from leading federal law enforcement,” Paul wrote. “Political disagreements are part of democracy, but supporting violence crosses a line. That is why I will vote no on Senator Markwayne Mullin for DHS Secretary.”
In 2017, Mullin called Paul a “freaking snake” and said, “I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did,” referring to Paul’s neighbor, who broke six of his ribs that year.
“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 for the proper use of force,” Paul said, referring to Mullin during Wednesday’s hearing.
The eight who voted in favor were Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), and Fetterman.
HOW MARKWAYNE MULLIN WOULD LEAD DHS DIFFERENTLY THAN KRISTI NOEM
The seven who voted against were Paul, ranking member Gary Peters (D-MI), Sens. Margaret Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
Mullin has served in the Senate since 2023, after winning a 2022 special election to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe. Mullin served five terms in the House before being elected to the Senate.
