House GOP Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) is launching a bid for the U.S. Senate after President Donald Trump tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the firing of Kristi Noem.
Hern announced Wednesday that he is entering the race for the seat Mullin is expected to vacate if confirmed to the cabinet position. The Oklahoma Republican is already securing early support from fellow GOP lawmakers as he positions himself in what is likely to be a closely watched primary.
“The American dream is under threat by the radical left and RINO Republicans who oppose President Trump’s America First agenda and want to turn the United States into a third-world country,” Hern says in his campaign debut video.
“That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate — to ensure President Trump has a loyal ally, a leader who stood by his side when RINOs turned their backs on him, who will fight against Democrat insanity, keep the southern border secure, deport dangerous illegal immigrants, stand with law enforcement, and deliver economic affordability.”
Hern’s announcement makes him the first major Republican to declare his candidacy for the seat ahead of the November election. In deep-red Oklahoma, the winner of the GOP primary is widely expected to have a strong advantage in the general election.
Before entering politics, Hern built significant wealth as a McDonald’s franchisee after growing up in poverty and living without indoor plumbing until his teenage years. He was first elected to Congress in 2018 and currently chairs the House GOP Policy Committee.
Mullin is expected to step down from the Senate if he is confirmed as DHS secretary. Trump selected the Oklahoma Republican for the role after removing Noem from the position, giving Mullin a March 31 deadline to take over the department as the administration looks to quickly fill the post.
Under Oklahoma law, Senate vacancies are filled by the governor. However, the governor’s appointee must sign an affidavit agreeing not to run in the next election, which in this case will take place in November as Mullin’s term runs through the end of 2026.
Because of that rule, the appointed replacement would serve only temporarily until voters choose a new senator.
It remains unclear how crowded the Republican primary could become. Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., has previously said she is considering a Senate run but has not yet announced a final decision.
Hern is already assembling a campaign team closely aligned with Trump’s political operation. He has recruited pollster Tony Fabrizio, a longtime Trump ally, to serve as a senior adviser.
Fabrizio said in a statement that Hern is in a “strong position” to win the seat, pointing to his “record of support for President Trump’s agenda, the trust he has built with Oklahoma voters, and his experience in public service and in business.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is focused on ensuring Mullin’s seat is filled quickly once he departs for the administration. Thune is expected to meet with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt this week, a standard step as the governor prepares to appoint a temporary replacement.
“You know, obviously we want — we’re going to have to fill that seat for Markwayne here by the end of the month in the near term, and then the long-term issue will be decided by the voters of Oklahoma,” Thune said. “So whoever they decide to send us, we’ll be happy to receive.”
Hern has already secured endorsements from several Republican senators, including Jim Banks of Indiana, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Rick Scott of Florida, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, as he begins his campaign for the open seat.
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