House GOP Leader Kevin Hern Launches Senate Bid for Mullin’s Seat

House GOP Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern officially launched his campaign Wednesday for the Oklahoma Senate seat expected to be vacated by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who has been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security in the Trump administration.

Hern, a member of House Republican leadership, enters the race with endorsements from several sitting senators, including Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).

“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 declared in his campaign launch 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.”

Hern’s life story embodies a classic American success narrative. Growing up in poverty without indoor plumbing until his teenage years, he later found considerable wealth as a McDonald’s franchisee before winning election to Congress in 2018. He currently holds a key position in House GOP leadership as Policy Committee Chairman.

The Oklahoma Senate race has unique circumstances because of the state’s appointment rules. While governors typically appoint replacements to serve out the remainder of a vacated Senate term, Oklahoma law requires the governor’s appointee to sign an affidavit pledging not to run in the subsequent election. This creates an open race for Mullin’s seat, which runs through 2026.

Oklahoma’s deep-red political landscape makes the Republican primary especially significant, as the GOP nominee will be heavily favored to win the general election in November. So far, Hern is the first major Republican to declare his candidacy, though Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) has previously expressed interest without making a final decision.

Hern has strategically assembled a campaign team with strong ties to Trump, recruiting pollster Tony Fabrizio, a close ally of the president, as his senior advisor. Fabrizio expressed confidence in Hern’s chances, citing 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.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is focused on the immediate need to fill Mullin’s seat. He is scheduled to meet with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt this week, a standard practice when Senate appointments are pending. While Thune hasn’t expressed a preference for Mullin’s long-term replacement, he emphasized that “the long-term issue will be decided by the voters of Oklahoma.”

Mullin’s confirmation process is moving forward quickly, with his hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee scheduled for later this month. President Trump has set March 31 as the deadline for Mullin to assume leadership of DHS, replacing Kristi Noem who was recently dismissed from the position.

Though Mullin is expected to navigate the committee process smoothly, questions remain about potential challenges during a full Senate confirmation vote. As a current member of Senate Republican leadership under Thune, Mullin enjoys significant institutional support.

The Oklahoma Senate race represents an important opportunity for Republicans to maintain their strength in a reliably conservative state while potentially adding another staunch Trump ally to the upper chamber during a critical period for the administration’s domestic security and immigration agenda.