Hern wins Oklahoma primary with a lot of money from supporters.

Rep. Kevin Hern emerged victorious in the Republican primary for Oklahoma’s First Congressional District, securing a significant win in a fundraising battle against his opponents. According to the Associated Press, Hern will now go head-to-head with Dennis Baker in the upcoming general election.

The primary race showcased a clash between the incumbent, Rep. Kevin Hern, who has held the seat for six years, and challenger Paul Royse. Royse ran on a platform that sharply contrasted with Hern’s, positioning himself as “against Trump” and advocating for extensive cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Hern, a fervent supporter of former President Donald Trump, made headlines last January when he was nominated for Speaker of the House as a protest against former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Despite initially expressing interest in the nomination in October, Hern withdrew from consideration. However, following the withdrawal of Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan from the race, Hern re-entered the fray and announced his intention to seek the nomination again.

The fundraising efforts in the primary race were significantly skewed, with Hern raising close to $1.6 million as reported by the Federal Election Commission. In contrast, Royse did not file any campaign finance disclosures with the FEC.

Looking ahead, Hern will now advance to the general election in November, where he will go up against Evelyn Rogers, a former independent candidate now running as a Democrat, and former FBI agent Dennis Baker.

Oklahoma’s First Congressional District has historically leaned Republican, with the last Democrat to win the seat being former Rep. James R. Jones back in 1984.

Overall, the primary victory for Rep. Kevin Hern sets the stage for an intriguing general election battle that will undoubtedly capture the attention of voters in Oklahoma’s First Congressional District.