Hern, a member of House GOP leadership who has represented the Tulsa area in Congress since 2018, has been calling senators to gather support for a campaign and is poised to make an announcement on Tuesday afternoon, according to a source familiar with his plans.
His meeting with Scott, confirmed by a spokesman for the NRSC, is typical for candidates looking to get their campaigns off the ground. It comes as Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) prepares to leave the Senate after being nominated to replace Kristi Noem as the secretary of Homeland Security.
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) has also expressed interest in his seat, potentially setting the stage for a competitive race. Bice, a board member of the more centrist Republican Main Street Caucus, has not put a timeline on her decision, while Hern has begun to lock down the endorsements of conservatives.
He has support from Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI). In the House, Reps. Brandon Gill (R-TX) and Troy Nehls (R-TX) have preemptively endorsed his campaign.
“He’s a conservative, he’s pro-Trump, and has a lot of support in those circles,” said Banks, who chaired the conservative Republican Study Committee before Hern.
Senate GOP leadership, for its part, has so far stayed neutral in the race, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) called both Hern and Bice “fine people” on Tuesday.
“We’re going to have to fill that seat for Markwayne here by the end of the month, in the near term, and then the long-term issue will be decided by the voters of Oklahoma,” Thune said. “So whoever they decide to send us, we’ll be happy to receive.”
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Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, can appoint a replacement for Mullin to serve for the remainder of the year, but state law requires that person to sign an affidavit stating they will be a caretaker and not run for the seat.
Hern will be vying for a full, six-year term in November.
Rachel Schilke contributed to this report.
