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President Donald Trump officially endorsed Republican Rep. Kevin Hern for the 2026 Oklahoma U.S. Senate race.
Hern, who has served in Congress since 2018, is running for incumbent Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s seat. Mullin is expected to resign from his position should he be successfully confirmed as the president’s new secretary of Homeland Security.
“Kevin Hern, from the Wonderful State of Oklahoma (where I won all 77 out of 77 Counties, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!), is a Great Patriot, and FANTASTIC Congressman,” the president wrote Friday in a post to Truth Social. “A true friend of MAGA, Kevin is now running for the United States Senate, where I know he will continue to do an incredible job.”
President Trump also celebrated Hern as being “strongly supported by the fiercest MAGA Warriors in Oklahoma,” calling him one of the most “Highly Respected Leaders in the United States Senate.”
Likewise, he touted Hern’s tenure as the House Republican Policy Committee chair, along with his job advancing an America First agenda.
“In the U.S. Senate, Kevin will continue to fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Ensure American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” said President Trump.
He continued, “Kevin Hern will be an outstanding Senator, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The president’s endorsement comes weeks after appointing Oklahoma’s incumbent Republican Sen. Markwayne ullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security as a replacement to former Secretary Kristi Noem.
RSBN previously reported that the president supposedly met with the state’s governor, Republican Kevin Stitt, shortly after Mullin’s appointment to vet potential replacements.
Hern had already announced his bid for the open senate seat, assuming Mullin is successfully confirmed. Stitt himself was also floated as a potential candidate.
Regardless, Oklahoma law requires interim senators to serve as placeholders, meaning that they cannot launch their bid for the open Senate seat in the 2026 special election.
If Mullin is confirmed as secretary and resigns from the U.S. Senate, Stitt has 30 days to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the senator’s term through Jan. 3, 2027.
