Rep. Kevin Hern has won Oklahoma’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, immediately pledging to champion the SAVE America Act once he takes office. The legislation, which mandates voter identification and citizenship verification, is a priority for Hern as he campaigns on state trails. He emphasized that Oklahomans frequently express concern about the bill during his outreach.

President Trump endorsed Hern early in the race, a move that has resonated in deep-red Oklahoma where the former president has carried every county in recent elections. The primary victory effectively sealed the seat for November after Alan Armstrong—appointed to succeed Markwayne Mullin as U.S. Senator following Mullin’s departure to become Secretary of Homeland Security—pledged not to seek a full term, leaving the seat open for nomination.

Hern, with five terms in the House and currently serving as Republican Policy Committee chairman, has built his reputation through business ventures including 24 McDonald’s restaurants across Northeastern Oklahoma before entering politics. His grassroots connections earned him the nickname “McCongressman.” The SAVE America Act has stalled in Congress, facing opposition from Democrats who vow to block it and some Republicans who oppose similar measures. Hern believes holding the Senate seat from a state that consistently supports President Trump will provide the bill with greater momentum.

Hern will advance his plan to push voter ID legislation once elected to the U.S. Senate.