Kevin Hern is a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District since 2018. Born in Missouri and raised in Arkansas, Hern worked his way out of poverty to become a successful entrepreneur, owning 18 McDonald's franchises in the Tulsa area before selling his last franchise in 2021. He has also been involved in hog farming, banking, and media enterprises. In Congress, he serves as Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee and was formerly chair of the Republican Study Committee. Hern won his House races by substantial margins: 31 percentage points in 2020, 27 percentage points in 2022, and 26 percentage points in 2024.
Hern was born December 4, 1961, in Belton, Missouri, and raised in Pope County, Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1986 with a degree in engineering and briefly attended the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned his MBA from University of Arkansas, Little Rock in 1999. After moving to Oklahoma in 1999, he became a successful McDonald's franchisee, eventually owning 18 franchises. He has also owned or been involved in hog farming, community banking, and sports publications. He is a member of the Republican Study Committee and serves as Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee.