A growing number of Republican lawmakers are preparing to leave the U.S. House of Representatives after the current term, raising concerns within the party about maintaining its narrow majority. The latest announcement came from Oklahoma Representative Kevin Hern, whose decision adds to what is already a historic wave of departures from the chamber.
Historic Number of House Republicans Leaving Congress
The number of Republicans planning to leave the U.S. House of Representatives after this term has reached a record level. According to data from the Brookings Institution, 35 Republican lawmakers are either retiring or running for higher office.
This marks the highest number of GOP departures from the House since at least 1930. The figure also surpasses the previous record set in 2018, when Republicans lost 41 seats during the midterm elections.
These numbers do not include members who failed to win their party’s nomination in primary elections.
Oklahoma Representative Kevin Hern Joins the List
Oklahoma Republican Representative Kevin Hern became the 35th GOP member to announce plans to leave the House.
Hern revealed that he plans to run for the United States Senate. His announcement came through a campaign video where he discussed his reasons for seeking higher office.
A former businessman, Hern was first elected to the House in 2018 and has since represented Oklahoma in Congress.
Hern Plans to Run for U.S. Senate Seat
Kevin Hern is aiming to win a full Senate term if the seat becomes open.
The position could become available if current Senator Markwayne Mullin is confirmed as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. If that happens, the Senate seat would open up for a new election.
Hern is currently the first candidate to enter the race following Mullin’s nomination.
Hern Promises Support for President Trump
In his campaign announcement, Hern emphasized his support for President Donald Trump and the “America First” political agenda.
He said he believes the American dream is being threatened by political opponents and wants to serve as a strong ally for the president in the Senate.
Hern stated that his goal is to help advance policies aligned with Trump’s vision for the country.
Large Number of Republicans Running for Governor
In addition to those running for Senate, many House Republicans are also pursuing state leadership roles.
According to available data compiled by CNN, ten Republican House members are currently running for governor in upcoming elections.
This represents the highest number of House members from either party seeking governorships since records began in 1974.
Concerns Over the House Republican Majority
The wave of departures comes at a challenging time for House Republican leadership.
Speaker Mike Johnson already faces difficulties passing legislation because the party holds only a narrow majority in the chamber. Even a small number of dissenting votes can block major bills from advancing.
With dozens of members preparing to leave, party leaders are concerned about how the changes could affect upcoming elections and legislative priorities.
Total House Departures Across Both Parties
While Republican departures are at record levels, lawmakers from both parties are stepping down or running for other offices.
In total, 56 members of the House of Representatives are either retiring or seeking different positions. That number is still below the overall record of 65 departures set in 1992.
Among those leaving, sixteen lawmakers — including Kevin Hern — are running for seats in the U.S. Senate.
