Republican Representative Kevin Hern successfully secured reelection to his U.S. House seat from Oklahoma on Tuesday. He triumphed over Democrat Dennis Baker, who has a background as a former police officer in Tulsa and as an FBI agent. Hern, who built a significant fortune as a franchisee for McDonald’s, first won election to this seat in 2018, which encompasses much of Tulsa along with several nearby suburbs.

Since taking office, Hern has rapidly ascended within the ranks of the GOP leadership in the House, and he currently holds the position of chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Additionally, he made a brief attempt to succeed Kevin McCarthy as the House speaker. The call for Hern’s victory was made at 10:13 p.m. EST, marking a significant moment in his political career as he continues to influence the GOP’s direction in Congress.