Trump-era EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt joins race to replace Jim Inhofe in U.S. Senate

Scott Pruitt, a former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency who also served as Oklahoma attorney general, filed as a Republican candidate on Friday for the U.S. Senate being vacated by Sen. Jim Inhofe.

Pruitt, 53, told reporters that the next 10 weeks before the June 28 primary would be a sprint, but that he had the money and the record to compete in a field that includes U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, state Sen. Nathan Dahm and former Inhofe aide Luke Holland.

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"As I look at the race, all good folks," Pruitt said at the state Capitol after filing just a few hours before the candidate filing period was to end.

"And I will tell you, from my perspective, I offer the experiences I've had serving in (former President Donald Trump's) cabinet, serving as attorney general, making a difference in behalf of these issues that matter to Oklahomans today and I think matter to this country. And other candidates have their experiences, and they're going to offer their experiences."

Pruitt, who also served in the Oklahoma state Senate, left the attorney general post to become Trump's first EPA chief in 2017 and worked to reverse some of the environmental policies of the administration of former President Barack Obama. Pruitt pointed Friday to leaving the Paris Climate Accord in 2017 as a signature achievement.

Pruitt left the EPA in July 2018 under a barrage of criticism and amid investigations about his spending at the agency and potential conflicts of interest with a lobbyist.

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Pruitt said Friday that he had talked to Trump before making his decision to run. He did not say whether he expected an endorsement. Mullin, Shannon and Holland are all running as Trump loyalists.

Pruitt, of Tulsa, said he has been in private practice since leaving the EPA and had been involved recently in discussion about exporting natural gas to eastern European countries. In brief remarks to reporters, he emphasized his experience on energy issues. 

Asked whether he would have the money to compete with candidates who have had a head start, Pruitt said, "I've had it before. This is a sprint. I think entering the race, I think (I'm) well known in Oklahoma, I think Oklahomans know that I'm going to fight for their values, I think they know that I exhibited courage in working with the president historically to get things done and I think they know that I've also engaged in leadership and civility. I believe very strongly that we'll have the resources that we need."

Pruitt said he was in charge of an agency in Washington that was "the holy grail of the American left" and suggested the numerous investigations launched into his spending were the result of cutthroat politics in the nation's capital.

However, his travel and office expenditures were scrutinized and criticized by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office.

Pruitt's entrance into the race brought the total of Republicans to 10; three more filed after Pruitt, bringing the field to 13. Former Congresswoman Kendra Horn, a Democrat running for the seat, tweeted "Polluter vs. Problem Solver. Oklahoma, let's get to work."

NOTE: This story was updated with the final number of candidates filing for the open U.S. Senate seat.