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{{short description|American politician (born 1961)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

factoids

| term_start1 = November 13, 2018| term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Jim Bridenstine| successor1 = 19614}}| birth_place = Belton, Missouri, U.S.Republican Party (United States)>RepublicanTammy Hern|1994}}| children = 3Arkansas Tech University (Bachelor of Science>BS)Georgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Arkansas, Little Rock (MBA)weblink|House website}}pos=centerfilename=Rep. Kevin Hern on Recent Natural Disasters in Oklahoma.ogatype=speech|description=Kevin Hern speaks on recent natural disasters in OklahomaRecorded June 3, 2019}}}}Kevin Ray Hern (born December 4, 1961) is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma. A Republican, he is a member of the United States House of Representatives for {{ushr|OK|1}}. Born in Missouri and raised in Pope County, Arkansas, Hern graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1986 and briefly attended the Georgia Institute of Technology before returning to Arkansas to work for McDonald's the following year. In 1997 he bought his first McDonald's franchise and in 1999 he earned his MBA degree from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. After moving to Oklahoma in 1999, Hern expanded his McDonald's franchises, eventually owning 18 franchises in the Tulsa metropolitan area. In 2018, he ran his first campaign for office and was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Hern was a leading figure in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 United States presidential election. In December 2020, Hern signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution. Hern became the chair of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative Republicans in the House, in 2023. In the January 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election, Hern was nominated for Speaker of the House as a protest candidate against Kevin McCarthy. During the October 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election Hern initially announced he would seek the nomination, before withdrawing from the race against Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan. On October 20, 2023, he again announced his candidacy for Speaker of the House after the withdrawal of Scalise and Jordan.

Early life and education

Born on an Air Force base in western Missouri, Hern moved to Pope County with his mother, Freda Flansburg,NEWS, Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern honors late mother on U.S. House floor,weblink January 11, 2023, Fox 23, January 10, 2023, and younger brother after his parents separated.WEB, Lockwood, Frank E., February 25, 2019, Multimillionaire burger maker with Arkansas roots ready to legislate in Congress,weblink January 6, 2023, Arkansas Online, en, He graduated from Dover High School in 1980 and Arkansas Tech University in 1986 before working at Rockwell International while pursuing a PhD in astronautical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He left his degree program without finishing after the Challenger disaster {{Why|reason=This doesn't explain how/why these two events are connected|date=December 2023}} in 1986.Hern received his MBA from University of Arkansas, Little Rock, in 1999.WEB,weblink Dover native receives Congressional GOP nomination in Oklahoma, Couriernews.com, October 20, 2018,weblink October 20, 2018, dead,

Career

McDonald's franchises

In 1987, Hern moved to Arkansas and went to work for McDonald's; within a few years, he was an operations manager for several McDonald's franchises in the Little Rock area. In January 1997, he bought his first McDonald's, in North Little Rock. He sold that franchise in 1999 to move to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he bought two franchises. He expanded his business to 18 franchises in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area.WEB, Samuel, Hardiman,weblink 5 Questions with Kevin Hern, McDonald's franchisee | 5 Questions, Tulsa World, August 5, 2016, October 20, 2018, In 2018, during his first campaign for office, The Frontier coined the nickname "McCongressman" for Hern in reference to his McDonald's franchises.NEWS, Goforth, Dylan, The McCongressman? Out-of-state McDonald's money flows into the campaign of Tulsa restaurateur Kevin Hern,weblink January 6, 2023, The Frontier, June 25, 2018, The nickname was subsequently picked up by other outlets after his election.NEWS, Gray, Sarah, All Five Oklahoma Congressional Reps Stand Behind Anti-Semite, 9/11 Denier Rep. Marjorie Greene,weblink January 6, 2023, The Black Wall Street Times, September 16, 2021, NEWS, O'Brien, Timothy L., 'McCongressman' Gets a Large Order of PPP,weblink January 6, 2023, Bloomberg News, July 7, 2020, He sold his last McDonald's franchise in 2021.NEWS, Krehbiel, Randy, First District Congressman Kevin Hern gets out of the hamburger business,weblink January 6, 2023, Tulsa World, May 14, 2021,

Current businesses

In addition to his restaurant holdings, Hern started a number of other business enterprises in Oklahoma, including a hog farm, a community bank, and several high-school sports publications. In 2019, he owned a company that manufactured decor and furniture for some of the largest U.S. fast-food restaurant companies and was the wealthiest serving congressman from Oklahoma.WEB, Casteel, Chris, January 27, 2019, Hern worth more than rest of state's congressional delegation combined,weblink January 6, 2023, The Oklahoman, en-US, In 2023 he had assets worth between $36 million and $110 million.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hern's KTAK Corporation received between $1 million and $2 million in federally backed small business loans from American Bank and Trust as part of the Paycheck Protection Program. KTAK stated it would retain 220 jobs. The loan was seen as notable since Hern is a vocal opponent of deficit spending; in 2018, discussing a balanced budget, he said, "While there is no easy fix to this, the first step is clear: stop adding to it." In 2020, he said, "This isn't a bailout. It's a repayment of what the government has taken away from American workers and businesses."NEWS, After railing against federal spending, GOP lawmakers, conservative groups benefit from government aid program, Tom, Hamburger, Aaron, Gregg, Anu, Narayanswamy, Washington Post, July 8, 2020, July 9, 2020,weblink WEB, KTAK CORPORATION I - Coronavirus Bailouts - ProPublica, Syed, Moiz, Willis, Derek, ProPublica, July 7, 2020, July 9, 2020,weblink NEWS, 2020, Treasury, SBA data show small-business loans went to private-equity backed chains, members of Congress, The Washington Post,weblink KTAK operates franchises. During the Paycheck Protection Program negotiations, Hern pushed to increase the amount of aid going to franchises. Hern was ranked number 7 in the United States House of Representatives by total number of stock trades while in office between January 2020 and January 2022 and violated the STOCK Act in 2021.NEWS, Kight, Stef W., Olde, Thomas, The House's top stock traders,weblink December 14, 2022, Axios (website), Axios, February 9, 2022,

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

{{see also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma#District 1}}After Jim Bridenstine resigned from the United States House of Representatives in 2018 to become administrator of NASA, Hern ran to succeed him in {{ushr|OK|1}} in the 2018 elections. Hern advanced to the runoff,WEB,weblink Tim Harris, Kevin Hern headed to 1st Congressional District runoff; Democrats also going to second round, Randy, Krehbiel, Tulsa World, June 27, 2018, November 8, 2018, WEB,weblink Rare runoffs to decide 1st Congressional District nominees | Homepagelatest, tulsaworld.com, August 26, 2018, November 8, 2018, where he defeated Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris.WEB,weblink Kevin Hern beats Tim Harris for Congressional 1st District Republican nomination, tulsaworld.com, August 28, 2018, October 20, 2018, He then advanced to the general election, where he defeated Democratic nominee Tim Gilpin.WEB,weblink Kevin Hern beats Tim Gilpin to replace Jim Bridenstine in Congress, Tulsa World, November 6, 2018, January 27, 2019, Outgoing Governor Mary Fallin then appointed Hern to serve the rest of Bridenstine's third term. She was able to do so because under Oklahoma law, if a House seat falls vacant in an even-numbered year and the incumbent's term is due to end the following year, the governor can appoint someone to serve the remainder of the term. Accordingly, Hern was sworn into the House on November 13.NEWS,weblink Hern taking office ahead of freshman congressional class, Catherine, Sweeney, The Journal Record, November 8, 2018, WEB,weblink New 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern sworn in | Government, tulsaworld.com, January 1, 1970, November 14, 2018,

2020

{{see also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma#District 1}}Hern defeated Democratic nominee Kojo Asamoa-Caesar and Independent Evelyn L. Rogers in the November 2020 general election.

2022

{{see also|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma#District 1}}Hern ran for a third term in 2022, despite speculation that he might run for the open Senate seat being vacated by Jim Inhofe.NEWS, Gorman, Reese, Catching up with Congress: Kevin Hern passes on a run for open U.S. Senate seat,weblink January 6, 2023, The Frontier, April 14, 2022, Hern defeated Democratic nominee Adam Martin and Independent Evelyn L. Rogers in the November general election.

Tenure

In December 2020, Hern was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden prevailedWEB, Blood, Michael R., Riccardi, Nicholas, December 5, 2020, Biden officially secures enough electors to become president,weblink live, December 12, 2020, Associated Press, AP News, December 8, 2020,weblink over incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.NEWS, Liptak, Adam, Adam Liptak, December 11, 2020, Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election, en-US, The New York Times,weblink December 12, 2020, 0362-4331, December 11, 2020,weblink live, WEB, Order in Pending Case,weblink December 11, 2020, Supreme Court of the United States, December 11, 2020, December 11, 2020,weblink live, NEWS,weblink Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court, Daniella, Diaz, CNN, December 11, 2020, December 12, 2020,weblink live, He also was among 147 congressional Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results.NEWS, The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Resultswork=New York Timesaccess-date=October 20, 2023 first1=Karen first2=Larry first3=Denise, In 2022, Hern was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.HTTPS://WWW.CNBC.COM/2022/09/29/HOUSE-PASSES-ANTITRUST-BILL-RAISING-MA-FEES.HTML > TITLE=HOUSE PASSES ANTITRUST BILL THAT HIKES M&A FEES AS LARGER EFFORTS TARGETING TECH HAVE STALLED CNBC > DATE=SEPTEMBER 29, 2022, HTTPS://WWW.GOVTRACK.US/CONGRESS/VOTES/117-2022/H460 > TITLE=H.R. 3843: MERGER FILING FEE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2022 -- HOUSE VOTE #460 -- SEP 29, 2022, In 2023, Hern was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.HTTPS://WWW.GOVTRACK.US/CONGRESS/VOTES/118-2023/H136 > TITLE=H.CON.RES. 21: DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(C) OF … -- HOUSE VOTE #136 -- MAR 8, 2023, HTTPS://WWW.USNEWS.COM/NEWS/POLITICS/ARTICLES/2023-03-08/HOUSE-VOTES-DOWN-BILL-DIRECTING-REMOVAL-OF-TROOPS-FROM-SYRIA >TITLE=HOUSE VOTES DOWN BILL DIRECTING REMOVAL OF TROOPS FROM SYRIA AGENCY=ASSOCIATED PRESS, He was later among 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.WEB,weblink Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no, Jared, Gans, May 31, 2023, June 6, 2023, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, In July 2021, Hern voted against the bipartisan ALLIES Act, which would increase by 8,000 the number of special immigrant visas for Afghan allies of the U.S. military during its invasion of Afghanistan, while also reducing some application requirements that caused long application backlogs; the bill passed in the House 407–16.NEWS, Quarshie, Mabinty, These 16 Republicans voted against speeding up visas for Afghans fleeing the Taliban,weblink August 18, 2021, USA Today, August 17, 2021,

January 2023 Speaker election

On the eighth ballot of the 2023 Speaker of the House of Representatives election, Hern received two votes, from Representative Lauren Boebert and Representative Josh Brecheen. Hern himself voted for Kevin McCarthy.NEWS, Krehbiel, Randy, Kevin Hern gets votes for House speaker on third day of fight in D.C.,weblink January 6, 2023, Tulsa World, January 5, 2023, He was officially nominated by Boebert on the ninth ballot and received three votes.NEWS, Chasmer, Jessica, McCarthy set to lose 9th speaker vote, as Donalds and Hern split GOP votes,weblink January 5, 2023, Fox News, January 5, 2023, He was again nominated by Boebert on the tenth ballot,NEWS,weblink Who is Kevin Hern? More about one of the rebels' protest candidates, The New York Times, January 5, 2023, January 5, 2023, Astor, Maggie, and received seven votes. On the 11th ballot, Representative Bob Good of Virginia nominated Hern and he received seven votes.NEWS,weblink House Speaker Vote: Updates, The New York Times, January 5, 2023, January 5, 2023, Gold, Michael, As we enter the 11th ballot, we're not done with speaker nominations yet. Bob Good of Virginia, after a long wind-up speech, is putting forward Kevin Hern as a candidate., NEWS, Dorn, Sara, McCarthy Falls Short Again In Chaotic House Speaker Race—As Voting Stretches Past 11 Rounds For First Time In 163 Years,weblink January 6, 2023, Forbes, January 5, 2023, After the votes, Hern told The Frontier he was not ruling out a run for the Speakership and he would "think and pray about [it] before deciding." The next day, Kevin McCarthy secured the votes to win the election.NEWS, Mascaro, Lisa, Amiri, Farnoush, Kevin McCarthy wins House speaker in 15th round of voting,weblink January 7, 2023, Tulsa World, January 7, 2023,

October 2023 Speaker election

On October 4, 2023, he announced his campaign for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives after McCarthy was removed by a motion to vacate.NEWS, Peterson, Kristina, Rep. Kevin Hern to Run for Speaker,weblink October 4, 2023, The Wall Street Journal, October 4, 2023, He suspended his campaign on October 7, saying a three-way speaker race was not in the interest of the party.NEWS, Krehbiel, Randy, Kevin Hern backs off U.S. House speaker bid,weblink October 9, 2023, Tulsa World, October 7, 2023, On October 11, he announced that he would seek the House Majority Leader post vacated by Steve Scalise;NEWS, October 11, 2023, Speaker Election: Update from Robert Jimison, en-US, The New York Times,weblink October 13, 2023, 0362-4331, the same day he voted for Scalise to be Speaker of the House during the Republican house caucus vote.NEWS, Keyes, Maddy, Lucas, Hern back Scalise as other delegation members remain mum,weblink October 12, 2023, Enid News & Eagle, October 11, 2023, During his candidacy, Hern received news coverage for serving McDonald's breakfast sandwiches to the Republican conference.NEWS, Metzger, Bryan, A former McDonalds franchise owner dubbed 'McCongressman' wants to be the GOP's next House Majority Leader — and he's handing out McGriddles to win his colleagues over,weblink 23 October 2023, Business Insider, October 12, 2023, NEWS, Ferris, Sarah, Kevin Hern is making a special pitch in his House majority leader bid — McGriddles delivered to GOP offices,weblink 23 October 2023, POLITICO, October 12, 2023, en, After Scalise dropped out of the race, Hern then supported Jim Jordan for the nomination during the first three votes.NEWS, Maupin, Jennifer, Rep. Hern announces run for Speaker of the House,weblink 23 October 2023, KJRH-TV, October 20, 2023, On October 20, after Jim Jordan failed to be elected Speaker, Hern announced his reinstated candidature.NEWS, Gabbatt, Adam, Yang, Maya, Stein, Chris, Jim Jordan no longer Republican speaker candidate after losing secret ballot – US politics live, The Guardian, October 20, 2023,weblink At 19:31 in live report,NEWS, Krehbiel, Randy, Kevin Hern says he's back in House speaker race, Tulsa World, October 20, 2023,weblink October 20, 2023, He lost the conference vote on October 24 to Tom Emmer after being eliminated in the third round of a four round vote.NEWS, Krehbiel, Randy, Hern's speaker bid stalled,weblink 24 October 2023, Tulsa World, October 24, 2023, The same day he suspended his campaign and endorsed Mike Johnson in the race.NEWS, U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern drops back out of speaker's race,weblink 30 October 2023, Tulsa World, October 24, 2023,

Committee assignments

• Committee on Ways and Means (118th Congress)
  • Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
  • Subcommittee on Social Security
  • Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support
• Committee on Ways and Means (117th Congress)
  • Subcommittee on Social Security
  • Subcommittee on Health
  • Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
  • Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support
• Committee on Small Business (116th Congress)
  • Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Health and Technology
• Committee on Natural Resources (116th Congress)
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Deputy Republican Leader)
  • Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States
• Committee on the Budget (116th Congress)

Caucus memberships

• Republican Study CommitteeWEB, Member List,weblink December 21, 2017, Republican Study Committee, January 1, 2019,weblink dead,
  • Chairman (118th Congress)
  • Budget and Spending Task Force Chairman (117th Congress)

Political positions

During his political career Hern has positioned himself as close to Donald Trump and emphasized his own business experience.NEWS, Krehbiel, Randy, Who is Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern?,weblink October 9, 2023, Tulsa World, October 6, 2023,

Welfare

Hern has called current welfare spending "tragic". He is a strong supporter of work requirements for welfare programs and credits his support of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to its work requirement.NEWS, Polansky, Chris, Hern: American Dream Means Working 'Until You're Not Here Anymore',weblink January 6, 2023, Public Radio Tulsa, July 21, 2021,

Personal life

Hern and his wife, Tammy, have three children and two grandchildren.WEB,weblink Quick 5: Congressional District 1 candidates answer questions, Muskogee Phoenix, October 31, 2018, January 27, 2019, It is his second marriage.Hern is Protestant.WEB, Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress,weblink PEW Research Center, May 13, 2023, WEB, Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress,weblink Pew Research Center, March 6, 2023,

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change| title = Republican primary results}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no changeTim Harris (attorney)>Tim Harris| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 28,392| percentage = 27.5}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Kevin Hern| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 23,425| percentage = 22.7}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Andy Coleman| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 22,584| percentage = 21.9}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Nathan Dahm| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 20,843| percentage = 20.2}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Danny Stockstill| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 8,086| percentage = 7.8}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 103330| percentage = 100.0}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change| title = Republican primary runoff results}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Kevin Hern| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 40,373| percentage = 54.9}}{{Election box candidate with party link no changeTim Harris (attorney)>Tim Harris| party = Republican Party (United States)| percentage = 45.1| votes = 33,138}}{{Election box total no change|votes= 73,511|percentage= 100.0}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change| title = Oklahoma's 1st congressional district, 2018}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Kevin Hern| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 150,129| percentage = 59.3}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Tim Gilpin| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 103,042| percentage = 40.7}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 253,171| percentage = 100.0}}{{Election box hold with party link no change| winner = Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no changeWEBSITE=OKLAHOMA STATE ELECTION BOARD, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Kevin Hern (incumbent)| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 213,700| percentage = 63.70}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Kojo Asamoa-Caesar| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 109,641| percentage = 32.68}}{{Election box candidate no party link no change|candidate=Evelyn L. Rogers|percentage=3.62|votes=12,130|party=Independent (politician)}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 335,471| percentage = 100.0}}{{Election box hold with party link no change| winner = Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no changeWEBSITE=RESULTS.OKELECTIONS.US OKLAHOMA STATE ELECTION BOARD >ACCESS-DATE=NOVEMBER 9, 2022, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Kevin Hern (incumbent)| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 142,800| percentage = 61.16}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Adam Martin | party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 80,974| percentage = 34.68}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Evelyn Rogers| party = Independent (United States)| votes = 9,721| percentage = 4.16}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 233,495| percentage = 100.0}}{{Election box hold with party link no change| winner = Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}{{clear}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

• Congressman Kevin Hern official U.S. House website
• Kevin Hern for Congress official campaign site

{{CongLinks|congbio=H001082|votesmart=180004|fec=H8OK01157| congress=kevin-hern/H001082}}

• {{C-SPAN|117113}}

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