Republican Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern announced his campaign Wednesday to replace Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, whom President Donald Trump tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Hern, who chairs the Republican Policy Committee, is the first high-profile GOP candidate to officially enter the race for Mullin’s seat, which was already on the ballot this year.
Trump nominated Mullin last week to lead DHS. He’d replace ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, whose leadership amid his immigration crackdown caused months of turmoil and negative press for the agency.
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Trump’s choice of a sitting senator sets up a reliable path to confirmation, with some Senate Democrats already open to voting for their colleague in the chamber.
