For Two Oklahoma Freshman Congressman, Differences Are Similar

Oklahoma’s first-year congressmen, Jim Bridenstine and Markwayne Mullin, wound up at more or less the same place by separate routes.

Both are conservative Republicans in their mid-30s, committed family men strongly influenced by strains of Christian theology familiar to most Oklahomans.

Both were elected last year as first-time candidates with populist appeal.

Both joined their Republican colleagues on Friday in voting for a controversial budget bill that essentially extends spending authorization for every area of government except the Affordable Care Act.