Who?
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) — Member, Senate Indian Affairs Commitee
LISTEN: Laslo & Luján
Ask a Pol asks:
Are you going to be supporting Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as the next Homeland Security Secretary?
Key Luján:
“Let’s see what we chat about. I mean, he has a big responsibility. His predecessor over there, I think, created a lot of problems. Problems that he’s going to have responsibilities unraveling, shedding light on as well,” Sen. Ben Ray Luján exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics.
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Cont’d:
“I’m open to having a conversation, but I have a lot of concerns because when Homeland [Security Department] was envisioned after 9/11, the ICE agents were not told to go bust into Americans’ homes or bust American windows open or do those things. They’re supposed to be going after violent criminals. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. And that’s what’s been happening.”
ICYMI: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo used this exclusive for his LCB wireservice client National Native News
Caught our ear:
“While I may have some policy disagreements with Senator Mullin, Mark’s Mark,” Luján tells us. “Mark’s the guy that, you know — he’s a rancher, that’s who he is. I don’t know that there’s anything out of sorts there. It’s just that’s just who he is.”
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Ben Ray Luján (March 2026)
SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo sees Sen. Ben Ray Luján and an aide walking through the basement of the US Senate.
As they hop an elevator up to the Senate floor, Laslo chats up the Senator about his longtime colleague Sen. Markwayne Mullin who President Donald Trump nominated to replace embattled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Matt Laslo: “Remember one of my clients is National Native News?”
Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Yeah.”
Laslo: “Curious how it’s been working with Mullin on Indian Affairs Committee?”
Luján: “Look, Senator Mullin has been good to work with on issues where we’ve been able to find agreement to provide support to Native American communities, to First Nations in numerous areas. Markwayne and I have worked on legislation together. I’ve supported bills that he’s led.”
Laslo: “Huh?”
Luján: “And you know, the tradition of another Oklahoman that has always been a leader in Tom Cole...”*
*Like Mullin, Cole’s an enrolled member of the Cherokeee Nation.
Laslo: “Yeah.”
Luján: “...who I worked with in the House when I was there and still reach out to. Mark has been one of those members — not just, you know, Democrat, Republican — he’s been a member that tribal leaders have sought out to support different efforts.”
Laslo: “And he’s gotten a little bit of trouble — not just with the union boss, but remember over the Lumbee? He kind of offended some within the audience, ‘look at these faces.’ What do you make of his temperament at Homeland Security?”
ICYMI — Sen. Mullin was accused of racially stereotyping his fellow Native Americans in 2025
Luján: “Look, while I may have some policy disagreements with Senator Mullin, Mark’s Mark.”
Laslo: “Yeah?”
Luján: “Mark’s the guy that, you know, he’s a rancher. That’s who he is, you know?”
Laslo: “Yeah?”
Luján: “So, yeah, I don’t know that there’s anything out of sorts there. It’s just, that’s just who he is.”
Laslo: “Are you going to be supporting him or too early to tell?”
Luján: “Let’s see what we chat about. I mean, he has a big responsibility. His predecessor over there I think created a lot of problems. Problems that he’s going to have responsibilities unraveling, shedding light on as well. And so I’m open to having a conversation, but I have a lot of concerns because when Homeland [Security Department] was envisioned after 9/11, the ICE agents were not told to go bust into Americans’ homes or bust American windows open or do those things. They’re supposed to be going after violent criminals. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. And that’s what’s been happening, so I have a lot of questions over that way. But, you know, I’ve served with Mark in the House and now in the Senate as well, and you know, Mark’s always been true to who he is.”
Laslo: “Yeah?”
Luján: “Yeah.”
What should we ask Congress next?
Ask a Pol AI Disclosure:
Ask a Pol’s playing around with as many new AI tools as we can, so this small, unfunded startup can compete in today’s new media landscape. Generative AI isn’t tomorrow’s tech — it’s yesterday’s…
