U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern easily won Oklahoma’s GOP nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday in another show of President Donald Trump’s status as Republican Party kingmaker. With Trump’s early backing, the four-term congressman is seeking the Senate seat once held by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Trump’s endorsement kept Hern’s most serious potential rivals out of the primary, arriving even before Mullin was confirmed as a replacement for fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Hern won more than 50% of the vote in a five-person
field to avoid an Aug. 25 runoff. He is favored to win the seat in November because Democrats haven’t won a U.S. Senate race in Oklahoma since 1990. A bigger test of Trump’s influence — which has usually proved potent in Republican primaries this year — may come in a crowded race to succeed outgoing Gov. Kevin Stitt. Trump endorsed former state Sen. Mike Mazzei last month, wading late into a primary that includes several prominent Oklahoma Republicans. They include Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former
Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall and Chip Keating, the state’s former public safety director. The top four candidates relied heavily on their own funds, contributing $22.5 million, almost 72% of their combined fundraising of more than $31 million, according to campaign finance reports. It has raised the likelihood of an August runoff if no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote. Oklahoma House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson won the Democratic nomination Tuesday. In a solidly Republican state, the open races for two of Oklahoma’s
biggest offices set off a political scramble. Mullin left the Senate to join Trump’s cabinet and replace Kristi Noem, whom the president fired in March over mounting criticism over her leadership at the Department of Homeland Security. Republican Alan Armstrong, an energy executive, is filling the Oklahoma Senate seat for now, but state law prohibits him from seeking a full term as an interim appointee. Stitt, who been governor since 2019, cannot run again because of term limits — and Trump has seemed eager for
him to go. As head of the National Governors Association, Stitt drew Trump’s ire earlier this year over a dispute over invitations to White House events at the group’s annual meeting. The fallout led to Trump attacking Stitt on social media as a “RINO,” meaning Republican in Name Only. John Hanna, The Associated Press
Kevin Hern, Oklahoma GOP nomination, U.S. Senate, Trump endorsement, Markwayne Mullin, Kristi Noem, Kristi Noem fired, Cyndi Munson, Kevin Stitt, Mike Mazzei, Gentner Drummond, Charles McCall, Chip Keating, Alan Armstrong, Aug. 25 runoff
So Trump is basically choosing senators now? Wild.
I saw the headline and figured Hern would win anyway. Like Oklahoma is already GOP, so who cares what Trump says. Also why is Mullin leaving so quick, didn’t he just get started?
Wait, Markwayne Mullin “once held” the seat but then it says he’s a replacement for Noem?? My brain hurts. If Alan Armstrong is filling in, does that mean Hern can’t actually win unless there’s a runoff? Sounds like everybody’s just swapping jobs and calling it politics.
The part about “50% to avoid a runoff” is so stupid. So if someone gets like 49.9 they’re not the winner even though they’re basically the winner. And Trump backing Hern kept rivals out… but didn’t the article say multiple candidates still ran? Feels like spin, not results.