Kevin Hern

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]

Hern defeated Democratic candidate Kojo Asamoa-Caesar and Independent Evelyn L. Rogers in the November 2020 general election.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Hern's KTAK Corporation received assistance 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 they would retain 220 jobs. Their 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."[9][10][11] KTAK operates franchises. During the Paycheck Protection Program negotiations, Hern pushed to increase the amount of aid going to franchises.[11]

In December 2020, Hern was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who 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, in which Joe Biden prevailed[12] 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 the election held by another state.[13][14][15]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." Additionally, Pelosi reprimanded Hern and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[16][17] New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Hern and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit. Pascrell argued that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[18]

• Committee on Small Business
  • Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Health and Technology
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Deputy Republican Leader)
  • Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States
• Committee on the Budget