Kevin Hern seeks Oklahoma U.S. Senate seat in 2026

Kevin Hern, a Republican who represents Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House, is running for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Hern faces Democratic candidate N'Kiyla Thomas in the race.

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Residence: Tulsa
Born: Dec. 4, 1961, in Belton, Missouri
Family: Wife Tammy; three children and three grandchildren
Education: High school diploma, Dover High School (1980); architectural drafting certificate, Career Technology school; bachelor's degree in electromechanical engineering, Arkansas Tech University (1986); master of business administration, University of Arkansas, Little Rock (1999); doctoral program in astronautical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology (not completed)

Experience and public service

Hern was born on an Air Force base and gained an early appreciation for the sacrifices military families make, according to his congressional biography.

Before entering politics, Hern worked as an aerospace engineer at Rockwell International, according to BallotReady profile data. He later held operations management roles at McDonald's from 1987 to 1997 and served on the company's national leadership team, according to his congressional biography. He became a franchise owner at McDonald's starting in 1999. He also co-owned Custom Seating and Interiors and served as CEO and managing partner of Firstrike Group from 2000 to 2018, according to BallotReady.

Hern has represented Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District since 2018. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means. He chaired the Republican Study Committee during the 118th Congress (2023–2025) and chairs the House Republican Policy Committee in the 119th Congress.

On the issues

The following positions are based on Hern's responses on his campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire data. They reflect the candidate's stated views.

Border security and immigration: Hern said he believes there is a crisis on the southern border. He said he voted to fund the border wall to protect national security and sovereignty.

Government spending and reform: Hern said the national debt threatens national security and the future of children. He said he supports a balanced budget and term limits. He said he believes government functions best when Congress is a body of citizen-legislators rather than lifetime politicians.

Economy and small business: Hern said he works on the Small Business committee to ensure businesses have capital access to start and grow companies for American workers.

Education: Hern said every child deserves access to an education that provides skills and knowledge to pursue their own American dream. He said he is an advocate for school choice.

Public safety and Second Amendment: Hern said he supports law enforcement across Oklahoma. He is a supporter of the Second Amendment, according to his campaign responses.