Rep. Kevin Hern, the Oklahoma Republican who built an empire of 24 McDonald's franchises before ever setting foot in Congress, cruised to a primary victory Tuesday night in the Oklahoma Senate race — and he's already got his eyes on the one bill Democrats absolutely refuse to let pass. The man they call "McCongressman" is heading to the upper chamber with a Trump endorsement in his pocket and the SAVE Act on his lips.
Because apparently asking "are you a citizen?" before you vote in an American election is just too controversial for the Democratic Party. The horror.
Hern, who has served five terms in the House and holds the title of House Republican Policy Chair — the fourth-highest leadership role in the House GOP — made it crystal clear on primary night that the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act is priority number one. "They're saying we need to work on, you know, the SAVE Act. I mean, this is time and time again," Hern told Fox News. "This is something I'm not real sure why Republican senators are not supporting."
Neither are we, Kevin. Neither are we.
The SAVE Act, for those keeping score at home, simply requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Every single Democrat in the Senate opposes it. Let that marinate. A bill that says "prove you're an American before you vote in America" has zero Democratic support. And some Republicans have gone wobbly on it too, which Hern is clearly tired of watching from the House side.
"I understand why Democrats don't support it," Hern said. "They don't support anything that protects America."
Short. Sweet. Accurate.
President Trump endorsed Hern within the first 48 hours of his campaign launch, lauding him as "strongly supported by the fiercest MAGA Warriors in Oklahoma, and the most Highly Respected Leaders in the United States Senate." That endorsement carried serious weight in a state where Trump won all 77 counties — not once, not twice, but three times. Oklahoma isn't just red. It's Trump country down to the last precinct.
Hern's story is the kind Democrats claim to love but can never actually vote for. The guy grew up without indoor plumbing. He worked his way up to owning 24 McDonald's restaurants across Oklahoma before running for Congress. Now he's the fourth-ranking Republican in the House and a senator-in-waiting.
"I just respect the idea of work," Hern said. "I think working hard gives you a chance to compete with anybody."
Try selling that line at a progressive faculty lounge. You'll get escorted out.
Hern also made it clear he's not interested in warming a Senate seat and waiting his turn. "We've got people on third base who think they're ready to be in leadership, and I'm running right past them," he said, signaling he's already eyeing Senate GOP leadership roles. The man ran 24 restaurants — he's not going to Washington to take orders.
He follows fellow Oklahoman Markwayne Mullin, who left his Senate seat to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security under Trump. So the Sooner State needed a fighter to fill the gap. They got one.
According to Fox News, Hern likely won't face strong headwinds in November against Democratic candidates, which means the real question isn't whether he wins the general — it's how fast he can start twisting arms on the SAVE Act once he gets sworn in.
We've got a McDonald's franchise king heading to the Senate to make sure only Americans vote in American elections. Democrats are going to hate every second of it. Good.