Kevin Hern
Kevin Hern | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 1st district | |
| Assumed office November 13, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Bridenstine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1961 Richards-Gebaur AFB, Belton, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Tammy Hern (m. 1994) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Arkansas Tech University (BS) Georgia Institute of Technology University of Arkansas at Little Rock (MBA) |
| Website | House website |
Kevin Ray Hern (born December 4, 1961) is an American businessman and politician from the state of Oklahoma. A Republican, he is a member of the United States House of Representatives, for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district. He was elected in 2018.
Contents
Biography[edit]
Hern graduated from Dover High School in Dover, Arkansas, in 1980, and Arkansas Tech University in 1986.[1] He worked at Rockwell International and attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, studying for a Ph.D. in astronautical engineering.[2]
After the Challenger disaster, Hern had difficulty finding a job, and became a McDonald's franchisee. He bought his first McDonald's in North Little Rock, Arkansas in 1997. He sold the North Little Rock franchise in 1999 to move to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he bought two franchises. He expanded his business to own eighteen franchises in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.[2]
U.S. House of Representatives[edit]
2018 election[edit]
After Jim Bridenstine resigned from the United States House of Representatives in 2018 to become administrator of NASA, Hern ran to succeed him in Oklahoma's 1st congressional district in the 2018 elections. Hern advanced to the runoff,[3][4] where he defeated Tim Harris.[5] He then advanced to the general election, where he defeated Democratic candidate Tim Gilpin.[6] Outgoing Governor Mary Fallin then appointed Hern to serve out the balance 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 duly sworn into the House on November 13.[7][8]
Tenure[edit]
Committee assignments[edit]
- Committee on Small Business
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources(Deputy Repubclian Leader)
- Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States
- Committee on the Budget
Caucus memberships[edit]
- Republican Study Committee
- Pro-Life Caucus
- Southern Caucus
- Taiwan Caucus
- Border Security Caucus
- Municipal Finance Caucus
- Values Action Team
- Republican Israel Caucus
- Congressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus
- Diabetes Caucus
- Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
- Western Caucus
- Native American Caucus
- Air Force Caucus
- House Energy Action Team
- Freshman Working Group on Addiction
- Spina Bifida Caucus
Electoral history[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tim Harris | 28,392 | 27.5 | |
| Republican | Kevin Hern | 23,425 | 22.7 | |
| Republican | Andy Coleman | 22,584 | 21.9 | |
| Republican | Nathan Dahm | 20,843 | 20.2 | |
| Republican | Danny Stockstill | 8,086 | 7.8 | |
| Total votes | 103,330 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Hern | 40,373 | 54.9 | |
| Republican | Tim Harris | 33,138 | 45.1 | |
| Total votes | 73,511 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Hern | 150,129 | 59.3 | |
| Democratic | Tim Gilpin | 103,042 | 40.7 | |
| Total votes | 253,171 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Personal life[edit]
Hern and his wife, Tammy, have three children and one grandchild.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ "Dover native receives Congressional GOP nomination in Oklahoma". Couriernews.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Hardiman, Samuel (August 5, 2016). "5 Questions with Kevin Hern, McDonald's franchisee | 5 Questions". Tulsa World. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ World, Randy Krehbiel Tulsa. "Tim Harris, Kevin Hern headed to 1st Congressional District runoff; Democrats also going to second round". Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ "Rare runoffs to decide 1st Congressional District nominees | Homepagelatest". tulsaworld.com. August 26, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ "Kevin Hern beats Tim Harris for Congressional 1st District Republican nomination". tulsaworld.com. August 28, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ "Kevin Hern beats Tim Gilpin to replace Jim Bridenstine in Congress". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ Catherine Sweeney (November 8, 2018). "Hern taking office ahead of freshman congressional class". The Journal Record.
- ^ "New 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern sworn in | Government". tulsaworld.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- ^ "Quick 5: Congressional District 1 candidates answer questions". Muskogee Phoenix. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Congressman Kevin Hern official U.S. House website
- Kevin Hern for Congress official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jim Bridenstine |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 1st congressional district 2018–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by Troy Balderson |
United States Representatives by seniority 339th |
Succeeded by Joseph Morelle |
- Arkansas Tech University alumni
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Republicans
- People from Pope County, Arkansas
- People from Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 1961 births
- 21st-century American politicians
