Kevin Hern

Hern was born in Belton, Missouri, in 1961, on an Air Force base; he has said this gave him an early appreciation of the sacrifices of military families.⁠[1][2]

In high school he earned an architectural drafting certificate at a career technology school, and he received a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1986.⁠[2][1]

He worked as an aerospace engineer for Rockwell International. After losing that job following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, he set out to become a McDonald’s franchisee and funded that goal through several small ventures.⁠[2]

He also worked as a computer programmer and a real estate agent.⁠[1]

In 1997 Hern bought his first McDonald’s restaurant in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He moved to Oklahoma in 1999 and grew the business to 24 restaurants in northeastern Oklahoma.⁠[2]

In 1999 he earned an MBA from the University of Arkansas.⁠[1]

He spent 13 years on McDonald’s National Leadership Team, including its tax policy team and insurance corporation, and chaired its economics team.⁠[1][2]

From 2011 to 2015 he chaired the finance committee of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.⁠[1]

He also has interests in banking, manufacturing, real estate, technology and sports publishing, and he and his wife own Custom Seating and Interiors, a supplier to the quick-service restaurant industry.⁠[2]

On November 13, 2018, Hern was sworn in as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma’s 1st congressional district, succeeding Jim Bridenstine.⁠[2][1]

He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, including its Health Subcommittee, chaired the Republican Study Committee in the 118th Congress and chaired the House Republican Policy Committee in the 119th Congress.⁠[2]

Sen. Markwayne Mullin left the Senate after being confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security. On March 24 Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Republican Alan Armstrong, an energy executive, to the seat through the end of the year; state law barred Armstrong from seeking a full term.⁠[3][4]

Hern ran for the seat and withdrew from the Republican primary for his House district. Donald Trump endorsed him before Mullin was confirmed.⁠[1][3]

In the June 16 Republican primary Hern won 69.8% of the vote, defeating Gary England, Sean Buckner, Brian Ragain and Nick Hankins and avoiding a runoff.⁠[1][3]

After the primary he said, “We have a lot of friends in a lot of different states, including blue states,” and pledged to represent conservative principles in the Senate.⁠[3]

In the November 3 general election Hern defeated Democratic nominee N’Kiyla “Jasmine” Thomas, a nurse who had won the August 25 Democratic runoff with 61.2% of the vote, Libertarian Sevier White, and independents Curtis Stinnett and Ron Meinhardt. The Associated Press projected Hern the winner.⁠[5][3]

In an October formal opinion, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond concluded that the winner can take office once the State Election Board certifies the results and will serve the remainder of the current term; Armstrong’s appointment ends when the newly elected senator takes the oath, not on January 3, 2027.⁠[4][5]

U.S. Representative Kevin Hern: Official website: https://hern.house.gov/ (opens in a new window).⁠[2]

X: Public account: https://x.com/repkevinhern (opens in a new window).⁠[2]

YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: Public channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9XRRGCgGOEtEOwUAo1rYZg (opens in a new window).⁠[2]