Former U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin has been confirmed as the new U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, one of the nation’s most important federal jobs, and all Americans should hope he succeeds. The challenges of preserving our security are always immense, and particularly so as immigration enforcement has finally become a federal priority under the Trump administration.

For those of us in Oklahoma, this is a time to be thankful for the service Mullin has already provided our state—service that began even before his election. Oklahoma needs all the successful businesses it can get, and Mullin became a tremendous job creator when he assumed leadership of his family’s plumbing business, achieving strong growth.

His decision to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 was driven by a desire to serve, because the financial consequences of shifting from the private sector to public are typically negative for successful businessmen.

Eventually, Mullin ran for the U.S. Senate when Jim Inhofe announced his mid-term retirement, and easily prevailed, a reflection of Mullin’s general popularity.

Through the years, he’s made headlines for his blunt approach, including one occasion when it appeared Mullin and Teamster leader Sean O’Brien were ready to go to literal physical blows. But it’s notable that O’Brien was among those who praised Mullin’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Similarly, it is worth noting that two Democratic senators voted for Mullin’s confirmation. In the hyper-partisan world of the political left today, those two votes indicate strong goodwill toward Mullin on both sides of the aisle, even if other Democrats may not say so publicly.

Members of a state congressional delegation are often reluctant to weigh in on state issues, fearing backlash from some segment of voters. But Mullin showed true leadership when he quickly condemned State Question 836, which would have implemented a California-style “top two” election system in Oklahoma.

Under State Question 836, all candidates would have been placed on a single ballot, and the two receiving the most votes would proceed to the November general election, even if both were members of the same political party.

Had prior Oklahoma elections been run on that model, voters’ choices in some statewide races would have been limited to two Democrats, including in 2018.

Mullin called the proposal “nothing but a liberal attempt to weaken Oklahoma’s conservative voices.”

We often overlook the personal sacrifices involved for those who represent Oklahoma in Congress. Time in Washington is time away from spouses, children, and grandchildren. The family strain is real, and monetary compensation does not negate it.

Mullin has served Oklahoma well. I expect he will continue to do the same thing working on homeland security. Whatever comes next, this is a good moment to tell him, “Thank you.”