Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., cruised to a primary victory Tuesday night in Oklahoma and immediately signaled his intention to break the Senate logjam on election integrity legislation, telling Fox News Digital that voters are demanding action on the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, America Act.
"They're saying we need to work on, you know, the SAVE Act," Hern said ahead of primary Election Day. "I mean, this is time and time again."
The Legislative Stalemate
The SAVE Act has been stuck in the Senate, where all Democrats have vowed to block it, and some Republicans have voted against it in various forms. Hern expressed frustration with the impasse, saying, "This is something I'm not real sure why Republican senators are not supporting." He added, "I understand why Democrats don't support it. They don't support anything that protects America."
Hern has served five terms in the House, where he rose to the fourth-highest role in House GOP leadership as House Republican Policy chair. He also ran for Speaker of the House when former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted.
From Business to the Senate
His decision to leave the House and seek a seat in the Senate came after President Donald Trump nominated fellow Oklahoman, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, to lead the DHS earlier this year. Since entering the race earlier this year, Hern has amassed endorsements from senators and Trump, who called him "strongly supported by the fiercest MAGA Warriors in Oklahoma, and the most Highly Respected Leaders in the United States Senate!"
Hern said voters in Oklahoma "love the president. They love the fact that I support the president and I work with the president."
Hern likely will not face strong headwinds in November against one of a half dozen Democratic candidates seeking the nomination in Oklahoma, given that Trump has won the state — and all 77 of its counties — three times.
Hern, who grew up without indoor plumbing, said he knows the value of work and preparation. He said that is what landed him his own McDonald's franchise empire in Oklahoma, where he owned 24 restaurants, and that past life in business earned him the nickname "McCongressman."
"I just respect the idea of work. I think working hard gives you a chance to compete with anybody," Hern said. "And so, same thing with the Senate race. I came out strong, set a tone from day one." He also said, "The president endorsed me in the first 48 hours because of the work I've done over the last eight years," and, "And I think it goes back to that common word of work and working hard."
Leadership Ambitions
Hern said that if he is successful in November, he is not shutting down the option of seeking a spot in Senate GOP leadership. He said, "if you wait till something comes available, and you start working hard, it's too late because there are other people like me that have started out in the proverbial parking lot."
Hern added, "We've got people on third base who think they're ready to be in leadership, and I'm running right past them, and they say, 'Who's this guy?' And it's a guy like me that's just been working hard, positioning, building relationships," and, "And I think that's important going forward, and we'll see what comes open."
Why This Matters:
Hern's victory and his focus on the SAVE Act highlight the persistent divide over election integrity measures that voters in conservative states continue to prioritize. The legislative stalemate in the Senate, with all Democrats vowing to block the measure and some Republicans voting against it in various forms, underscores the institutional challenges facing efforts to tighten voter eligibility requirements. Hern's business background—owning 24 McDonald's franchises—and his rise through House GOP leadership demonstrate the private sector experience and institutional knowledge he would bring to the Senate. His willingness to pursue leadership positions immediately signals an assertiveness that could shift the balance of power within the Republican caucus, particularly on stalled legislation that resonates strongly with the party's base in states like Oklahoma, where Trump won all 77 counties three times.