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.
Strong conservative voting record
Hern has a 95% lifetime conservative voting record according to Heritage Action and has emphasized conservative values throughout his career.
Voting History: Consistent conservative voting on fiscal, social, and defense issues
Attempted to overturn 2020 election results
Hern signed an amicus brief with 125 other Republicans supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, attempting to overturn 2020 election results. He also voted against certifying electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania on January 6, 2021.
Voting History: Voted to reject electoral votes; supported election overturn attempts
Pro-enforcement, pro-border wall
Strong supporter of border enforcement and internal enforcement policies. Pledges to deport undocumented immigrants he considers dangerous.
Voting History: Consistent pro-enforcement voting record
Opposes Affordable Care Act extensions
Opposes extending tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. Supports welfare reform with work requirements.
Voting History: Voted against ACA-related provisions
Hern has a 95% conservative lifetime voting record according to Heritage Action. He maintains strong alignment with Republican leadership on fiscal, social, and defense issues. His voting record reflects support for deregulation, balanced budget amendments, and pro-life positions. However, he has also voted for some bipartisan antitrust measures.
| Bill | Title | Vote | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas v. Pennsylvania | Amicus brief supporting election overturn attempt | Supported | 2020-12-00 | Participated in 126-member Republican effort to overturn 2020 election results |
| Electoral Vote Certification | January 6 vote against certifying Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes | Nay | 2021-01-06 | Voted to reject certified electoral votes from two states |
| Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 | Antitrust package | Yea | 2022-06-00 | One of 39 Republicans to support antitrust enforcement |
Hern's social media tone matches his official campaign messaging, aggressive toward Democratic and moderate Republican opponents, supportive of Trump
Campaign launch announcing candidacy for U.S. Senate
Announcement video emphasized personal story of growing up 'dirt poor' and building businesses, framing himself as understanding Oklahoma workers
View post →Hern participated in attempts to overturn the 2020 election and voted against certifying electoral votes
Expected to be central Democratic argument in general election