Earlier this month, we were the first local media outlet to report that Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern – a wealthy McDonald's franchisee who represents the Tulsa area – could be the next Oklahoma Speaker of the House.
Not too long after, Hern withdrew his name from consideration to let Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan duke it out for the title.
He did so in the name of UNITY:
I’ve been on the phone 50+ hours with Republican members and what’s clear is we all want UNITY.
— Congressman Kevin Hern (@repkevinhern) October 7, 2023
I believe a three-man race for Speaker will create even more division and make it harder to elect a Speaker.
Read my letter here: pic.twitter.com/Sea4gPCS94
If you follow the local news, you'll know that Scalise and Jordan's efforts to be the next Speaker have both been derailed, and there's now a nine-man free-for-all to be the person who's a historic event or two away from being the next US president.
Hern is now apparently one of those men...