OKLAHOMA CITY – Alan Armstrong, the executive chairman of the Williams’ Companies Board of Directors, is expected to be the choice of Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt to fill the remainder of Markwayne Mullin’s U.S. Senate term, sources told Southwest Ledger Monday.
Armstrong was among a handful of potential candidates, including Oklahoma City oilman Harold Hamm and the governor’s own senior advisor, Dustin Hilliary, as possible choices for the seat.
Sunday, sources told the Ledger that Stitt and Armstrong traveled to meet with President Trump. Last week, the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee advanced Oklahoma Sen. Mullin’s nomination in an 8-7 vote, setting up a vote before the full chamber as early as this week.
The Senate is expected to vote Monday on Mullin’s nomination as chief of the Department of Homeland Security.
If appointed by Stitt, Armstrong would serve until the next election, when Oklahoma voters would return to the polls to decide who serve as U.S. senator.
Armstrong joined the Williams Companies 40 years ago and later served more than a decade as CEO before becoming chairman. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in civil engineering.
Hilliary, a longtime Lawton businessman and co-publisher of this newspaper, withdrew his name from the candidate list late last week.
“I am honored by Governor Stitt’s continued confidence in appointing me to the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma,” Hilliary wrote. “In this role, I’ll be rooted here at home while still helping shape the future of our state.
“There will be a time in the future when I am able to devote 100% of my attention to serving our state, and I look forward to that opportunity when the timing is right.” Hilliary said the changes in the 2026 political landscape were not expected. “While serving our state in the U.S. Senate would be a tremendous honor, after thoughtful consideration— and some time away with my family over Spring Break—I have decided this is not the right season for me to step away from Hilliary Communications or to be gone from my kids, traveling back and forth to Washington, D.C.” he said.
If appointed, Armstrong will hold the post until January. Oklahoma state law prevents Armstrong from being appointed to the post and from running for it during the same election cycle.