By Rick Maranon, Fox23 News
TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Republican Congressman Kevin Hern will likely announce he will run for the soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat currently held by Oklahoma U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R).
Our news partners at FOX23 confirmed Hern is making plans with sources close to the Congressman both on Capitol Hill, and back in his district, which encompasses all of Tulsa County and more. Those sources asked not to be named because they could not officially comment on the record in their capacity.
Hern is already in the process of shifting campaign cash around to prepare for a statewide run, the same sources said, and Hern told reporters to standby for an announcement of some kind next week.
This is not the first time Hern’s name has been floated in Oklahoma politics for a U.S. Senate seat.
In 2022, Hern’s name was thrown around as a possible contender for the seat being vacated by Jim Inhofe that would go on to be filled by Mullin. Hern decided to run for another term in the House instead.
Hern is currently the fifth most powerful Republican in the U.S. House as the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. At one point, he considered running to be Speaker of the House during the October 2023 Republican leadership upheaval after the removal of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Hern has also been nominated by some House members to be Speaker multiple times.
FOX23 sources say Hern is reaching out to lawmakers on Capitol Hill to get some support locked in before he makes a formal announcement in the coming days.
It is unlikely Hern would be appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) to fill the remainder of Mullin’s term after Mullin is likely confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary, because whoever the governor appoints must sign an affidavit that they would not run for a full term if appointed.
