Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., will announce Wednesday that he is running for Senate in Oklahoma, two sources familiar with his plans told NBC News.
Hern will run to fill Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s seat after President Donald Trump selected the Oklahoma senator to be the next nominee for homeland security secretary. Hern’s plans were first reported by Punchbowl News.
Should Mullin be confirmed, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will appoint someone to finish his term, which ends in January 2027. According to state law, the person who temporarily fills the seat must sign an affidavit vowing not to run for a full term. This means that Hern is removing himself from Stitt’s pool of temporary replacement options and is instead vying to be the full-term senator from Oklahoma.
Hern is the first candidate to officially enter the race since the news of Mullin’s nomination. He has served in Congress since 2018 and is chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. Hern also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. Before serving in Congress, he owned McDonald’s franchises and several other businesses.
Trump announced last week that he was firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and wanted to replace her with Mullin. Trump said that he wanted Mullin to serve in the Cabinet role starting March 31.
Shortly after Trump announced Mullin as his pick, the senator told reporters that the two are “great friends” and that he looked “forward to working with him in his Cabinet.”
Mullin began his Senate tenure after winning a 2022 special election to fill the seat previously held by Sen. Jim Inhofe, who retired. Mullin served in the House for 10 years before being elected to the Senate. Mullin previously ran a family plumbing business and ranch and is a former mixed martial arts fighter.