U.S. Senate · Oklahoma

Statewide

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 32 claims re-checked against their sources · 5 corrected · 1 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Kevin Hern's background facts (birthplace/education, McDonald's franchise history, Turnpike Authority role, Ways and Means committee assignment) were cited to the race overview page (s1), which does not contain them; verified and retargeted to his individual Ballotpedia bio page, added as new source s4.
  • Kevin Hern's healthcare_public position (2018 platform calling for repealing the ACA) was verified word-for-word on the Kevin Hern Ballotpedia bio page (s4) rather than s1; retargeted citation.
  • Removed Kevin Hern's tax_wealthy position ('opposes' raising taxes on high earners/corporations, citing Ways and Means membership and 'federal overreach' language) — the 'federal overreach' phrase on his campaign site actually refers to a different bill (H.R.1 on elections), not tax policy; no direct tax_wealthy statement was found in his cited sources, so this was an unsupported inference from committee membership.
  • All other facts (context, primary results, N'Kiyla Thomas quotes and background, Sevier White/Meinhardt/Stinnett minimal entries) verified verbatim against Ballotpedia and campaign sources; no changes needed.

On the ballot · 5 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEKevin Hern
R
N'Kiyla Thomas
D
Sevier White
LIB
Ron Meinhardt
IND
Curtis Stinnett
IND
Protect legal access to abortionOpposes[19][20]votesSupports[3]———
Stricter gun lawsOpposes[15][16][17]votes————
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsSupports[5][6][7][8][9][10]votes————
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsOpposes[6][7][8][13]votes————
Expand public health coverageOpposes[6][7][8][11]votesSupports[3]———
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsOpposes[6][7][8][12][13]votes————
Raise the minimum wageOpposes[18]votes————
Broad tariffs on imported goodsSupports[14]votes————
Universal, publicly funded child careOpposes[12]votesSupports[3]———

The candidates, in full

Kevin Hern

RU.S. Representative, Oklahoma's 1st District (since 2018)

Won the June 16, 2026 Republican primary with 69.8% of the vote

Kevin Hern is the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District, a former McDonald's franchisee, and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He is running for the open U.S. Senate seat rather than seeking re-election to the House.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.
  • NoInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • NoAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • NoBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • NoBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • Didn't voteAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.

On the record — official actions

  • billCosponsored H.R.299 and H.R.550, bills recognizing Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans and WWII Merchant Mariner veterans.[2]
  • billCosponsored H.J.Res.22, proposing a balanced budget constitutional amendment.[2]
  • voteVoted for H.R.695 to fund border wall construction; cosponsored H.R.768 to defund sanctuary campuses.[2]
  • billCosponsored H.R.38, national concealed-carry reciprocity legislation.[2]
  • billIntroduced legislation (titled by his campaign the PROTECT Our Kids Act) to prohibit U.S. Department of Education funding for schools hosting Confucius Classrooms.[2]
  • voteOpposed H.R.1, which his campaign describes as limiting federal overreach into elections; cosponsored H.R.949.[2]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15).[19][20]

    What they say: Cosponsored bills described by his campaign as protecting human life and limiting abortion funding.[2]

  • OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24).[15][16][17]

    What they say: Cosponsored H.R.38 for national concealed-carry reciprocity and voted against H.R.8 and H.R.1112, which his campaign describes as Second Amendment protections.[2]

  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6, 2021-03-18).[5][6][7][8][9][10]

    What they say: Voted for H.R.695 to fund border wall construction and cosponsored legislation to defund sanctuary campuses.[2]

  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[6][7][8][11]

    What they say: His 2018 campaign platform called for repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with a free-market-driven system rather than expanding public coverage.[4]

  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[6][7][8][12][13]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[6][7][8][13]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[14]

  • OpposesUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[12]

  • OpposesRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[18]

In their words — priorities

  • Cosponsored H.J.Res.22, a proposed balanced budget amendment to address national debt and curb federal spending.[2]
  • Voted for H.R.695 to fund border wall construction and cosponsored H.R.768 to defund sanctuary campuses.[2]
  • Says he is focused on countering China, including introducing legislation to prohibit federal education funding for schools hosting Confucius Classrooms.[2]

Background

  • Born in Belton, Missouri, in 1961; earned a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1986 and an MBA from the University of Arkansas in 1999.[4]
  • Became a McDonald's franchisee in 1999 and had acquired 10 franchises by 2012; served on McDonald's National Leadership Team for 13 years.[4]
  • Chaired the finance committee of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority from 2011 to 2015.[4]
  • Elected to the U.S. House in 2018 and re-elected since; sits on the Ways and Means Committee (Health and Tax subcommittees, 2025-2026).[4]

Campaign money

Raised $10.0M · spent $7.5M · $2.5M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

N'Kiyla Thomas

D

Won the August 25, 2026 Democratic primary runoff with 58.7% of the vote

N'Kiyla Thomas is a nurse, community health worker and Chickasaw Nation citizen from Ardmore, Oklahoma, running for U.S. Senate on a platform centered on healthcare access, education and family support.[1][3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Says the healthcare system, especially in rural areas, is broken and she is fighting to expand access and lower costs.[3]

    “As a nurse, I’ve seen how broken our healthcare system is—especially in rural areas—and I’m fighting to expand access, lower costs, and protect reproductive rights.”
  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortion

    States she is fighting to protect reproductive rights.[3]

    “I’m fighting to expand access, lower costs, and protect reproductive rights.”
  • SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care

    Lists affordable childcare and support for parents raising children with disabilities as a core campaign priority.[3]

In their words — priorities

  • "Putting Oklahoma Families First" — fighting for accessible healthcare, affordable childcare, and support for parents, especially those raising children with disabilities.[3]
  • "Real Support for Teachers, Nurses, and Working People" — better wages and safer workplaces for those professions.[3]
  • "People Over Politics" — describes her campaign as independent of billionaire or lobbyist backing.[3]

Background

  • Born and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma; earned a high school diploma from Ardmore High School.[1]
  • Career experience includes working as a nurse, community health worker and stay-at-home parent.[1]
  • Affiliated with the Chickasaw Nation, autism support and advocacy groups, and military spouse and veterans advocacy networks; her husband serves in the military.[1][3]

Campaign money

Raised $57K · spent $58K · $456 cash on hand (through 2026-08-05) FEC filing ↗

Sevier White

LIB

Advanced from the Libertarian primary (which was canceled) for U.S. Senate Oklahoma

Sevier White is the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Ron Meinhardt

IND

Ron Meinhardt is an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Campaign money

Raised $8,713 · spent $8,551 · $162 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Curtis Stinnett

IND

Curtis Stinnett is an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Sources · 20

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.On The Issues / Promises Kept · Hern for Senate campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.N'Kiyla Thomas · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2025-01-01 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Kevin Hern · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  5. 5.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  7. 7.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record