Campaign Bice declines to run for Oklahoma Senate seat by Julia Mueller - 03/13/26 11:09 AM ET by Julia Mueller - 03/13/26 11:09 AM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Oklahoma Rep. Stephanie Bice (R) said Friday she would not be running for the Senate after President Trump tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to run the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and set off a scramble among Oklahoma Republicans.   “After prayerful consideration, I remain committed to serving the Fifth Congressional District, a place that I proudly call home,” Bice said in a post on the social platform X . “President Trump needs strong allies in the House and it is my honor to champion policies that better the lives of everyday Oklahomans. In the next few weeks I will file for re-election, and I’m excited to continue traveling across the district to share our strong America first agenda.” Chatter built quickly after Trump announced Mullin as a Cabinet pick to replace Kristi Noem at DHS, with Bice and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) teasing potential bids . Bice, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, had said earlier this month that she was “carefully considering” a run. Hern, a wealthy businessman and chair of the House Republican Policy Committee, launched his campaign on Wednesday. The primary election will take place on June 16. Candidates must file to run during the three-day filing period from April 1-3.  In the meantime, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has 30 days to appoint someone from Mullin’s party to temporarily fill the seat after the senator leaves his post, who will serve until a new senator is elected in November, but the appointee must pledge not to run for a full term afterward.  Mullin, who was up for reelection in November, was elected to the Senate in a 2022 special election, defeating a rival Democrat by roughly 27 points in the red state to fill the remainder of former Sen. Jim Inhofe’s (R-Okla.) term. Trump won Oklahoma by more than 30 points in 2024. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Jim Inhofe Kevin Hern Kevin Stitt Kristi Noem Markwayne Mullin Stephanie Bice Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Campaign News See All Campaign Talarico: Attack on Iran girls school ‘makes me sick to my stomach’ by Ryan Mancini 14 hours ago Campaign  /  14 hours ago