Who is Kevin Hern? The former McDonald's franchise king whose fast-food fortune took him to Washington and is contesting in the Oklahoma Senate race in US midterms

Kevin Hern built a fortune running McDonald’s restaurants before entering politics. Now, the Oklahoma Republican is hoping to take his career from the House of Representatives to the US Senate. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Hern won his Republican Senate primary and is preparing for the November election. If he wins, his journey from fast-food franchise owner to senator will give him a new nickname: the “McSenator.” At 64, Hern has a business background, a multimillion-dollar fortune and a long-standing connection to the golden arches, as per a report by The New York Post.

How did Kevin Hern make his fortune?

Before becoming a politician, Hern owned 18 McDonald’s franchises around Tulsa, Oklahoma. The business helped him build substantial wealth. He is worth at least $110 million, as per his most recent financial disclosure.


Hern eventually sold his franchise holdings finishing the process by 2021.. He has kept talking about how his years, in the fast-food industry shaped his approach to work and leadership.

In a 2018 Fox News opinion piece, written after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rose to prominence, Hern pushed back against people who dismissed his business background.

“People call me the ‘McCongressman’ and trivialize my real-world experience because it’s tied to the golden arches. It doesn’t bother me because the McDonald’s franchise program helped me realize my American Dream,” he wrote.

“I’ve embraced the nickname ‘Big Mac’ and I share my ‘secret sauce’ to success with anyone who wants to listen,” he added.

Hern was elected to the House in 2018 and previously chaired the conservative Republican Study Committee.

What role did McDonald’s play in his political career?

Hern has often pointed to his experience running restaurants as a lesson in listening to people. During the House Republicans’ effort to replace then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, he also ran for the speakership.

Speaking to Fox News Channel’s Cavuto Live, Hern said: “People want to be heard, and I spent time listening to people, learning that almost 35 years in the McDonald’s business. And people want to be valued in their opinions.”

He even delivered two cheeseburgers to each Republican as he sought support, but the campaign did not succeed.

Hern is not the only McDonald’s franchise owner in Congress. Rep. Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican who owns six franchises, once presented Trump with a French Fry Certification Pin.

At a McDonald’s Impact Summit last November, Trump called both men “warriors.” The president has also worked a McDonald’s drive-through shift during his 2024 campaign.

A Senate race backed by Trump

Trump endorsed Hern in March, calling him an “outstanding” senator who “WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Hern is seeking a seat expected to remain in Republican hands. After Sen. Markwayne Mullin became Trump’s secretary of Homeland Security in March, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed energy executive Alan Armstrong to serve the remaining nine months of Mullin’s term. If Hern defeats the Democrat who emerges from the runoff, he could secure a full six-year Senate term.