Liberal New Mexico Senator Stuns Party, Supports Markwayne Mullin’s Nomination

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security cleared a key hurdle Sunday, with Senate Republicans getting an unexpected assist from across the aisle.

The Senate voted 54-37 in a rare Sunday session to advance Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination, setting up a final confirmation vote as soon as Monday or Tuesday. Mullin is slated to replace DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s support was already on the radar, but Democrats were caught off guard when New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich also voted to move the nomination forward.

“This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend. We have a very honest and constructive working relationship,” Heinrich said in a statement explaining his decision. “We have authored legislation together, such as the Tribal Buffalo Management Act, and we crafted the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill together this year. We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share.”

Heinrich pointed to Mullin’s independence as a key factor in his vote.

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

“I have also seen first-hand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a Secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller,” he said.

The New Mexico Democrat also took aim at the agency’s leadership in recent years, arguing he has struggled to maintain any meaningful working relationship with DHS officials.

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“For five years, under this and the previous Trump Administration, I have lacked any constructive relationship with the Secretary of Homeland Security. This is despite my state being home to hundreds of TSA [Transportation Security Administration], CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and Border Patrol constituents and many miles of the U.S./Mexico border,” Heinrich said.

He added that he wants a DHS chief willing to engage directly with border-state concerns.

“I want someone who recognizes the necessity of judicial warrants, as he has. I would like a Secretary who I can call and have a constructive conversation with about my state and the unique terrain that exists in the southwest and the proper mix of structure, technology and personnel necessary to effectively secure our border,” Heinrich said. “For these reasons, I will vote to confirm Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security.”

Mullin and Heinrich have worked together before, including reintroducing the Indian Buffalo Management Act in December 2025, a bipartisan effort tied to bison conservation and tribal land management.

The crossover support hands Trump early momentum on a high-profile Cabinet post, with the final vote now looming in the days ahead.

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