Markwayne Mullin is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Oklahoma since 2023. A member of the Republican Party and an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin made history as the first Native American U.S. senator since Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired in 2005 and the second Cherokee citizen elected to the Senate after Robert Latham Owen, who served until 1925. Born on July 26, 1977, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mullin grew up in a family with deep roots in the state. He graduated from Stilwell High School in Stilwell, Oklahoma, and briefly attended Missouri Valley College in 1996 but did not complete his studies there. At age 20 in 1997, following his father's illness, Mullin took over the family-owned Mullin Plumbing business, which he expanded into a successful enterprise. He later earned an associate's degree in applied science, focusing on construction technology, from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee in 2010.

Before entering national politics, Mullin built a diverse career as a business executive, owning and founding multiple companies in plumbing, construction, and real estate. He also worked as a radio personality and a husbandry worker. A former undefeated mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with a professional record of 5-0, Mullin has ties to wrestling promotion, reflecting his entrepreneurial and athletic background. His political journey began in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where he served from 2005 to 2011. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2012, he held that seat from 2013 until his successful run in the 2022 special election to replace retiring Senator Jim Inhofe.

As a senator, Mullin advocates for conservative policies, including energy independence, Second Amendment rights, and support for Native American issues, informed by his Cherokee heritage and business experience. He represents Oklahoma's interests in Washington, D.C., while maintaining strong ties to his home state.