U.S. Senate candidate Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a Republican who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District, recently met with former President Trump as Mullin campaigns in an increasingly crowded and competitive race.
Mullin, who has served in Congress since 2013, met with Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate April 14, just before a former Trump cabinet member entered the crowded Oklahoma special election to finish retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe’s Senate term.
Trump has not publicly backed any of the candidates in the Oklahoma race, but his endorsements have been hotly sought after by Republican candidates hoping to get an edge over competitors for their party’s nomination. Trump has used his support to show who is most aligned with his America First vision and who he believes is most likely to succeed in the general election against a Democratic opponent.
At the meeting, Trump and Mullin discussed the state of the economy and the upcoming election, Mullin’s campaign said. The Oklahoma congressman also showed Trump internal polling from his campaign that indicates he is far ahead of any other candidate in the race.
Mullin’s meeting with Trump came one day before former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt announced he would run for the Senate seat.