Trump-era EPA chief Scott Pruitt files to run for Senate in Oklahoma

Trump-era Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt will run to represent Oklahoma in the Senate.

Pruitt officially filed on Friday to run for the seat currently held by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.). Inhofe announced earlier this year that he would not run for reelection.

It had been previously reported that Pruitt was considering a Senate bid. 

Pruitt helmed the agency tasked with protecting the environment until resigning in 2018 amid several ethics controversies. 

He faced scrutiny for his $50 per night deal to rent a condo co-owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist as well as for spending on his security detail, first-class travel and a soundproof booth in his office. 

He also targeted several Obama-era environmental protections for rollbacks or changes, including climate regulations on power plants and oil and gas drillers, as well as clean water regulations. 

Inhofe announced in February that he would retire at the start of 2023, triggering a special election to replace him. 

Pruitt will face off against a number of other Republicans in the June 28 primary, including Rep. Markwayne Mullin.

Given Oklahoma’s deep-red voting record, whoever wins the Republican nomination is expected to win the seat in November.​​

Before joining the Trump administration, Pruitt served as Oklahoma’s attorney general. 

Updated at 2:43 p.m.