On May 27, 2019, MAGA Rep. Kevin Hern took a boat ride up the Arkansas River. He went to see the massive flooding from failing levees that devastated a Sand Springs neighborhood. You would almost think Hern cared about his district – until you find out he voted NO to funding to fix the levees and stop the flooding. I’m running for Congress in Oklahoma’s First District to defeat Hern and stop him from playing politics with people’s lives.
In the aftermath of the flooding in May of 2019, I imagine it was County Commissioner Karen Ketih who reached out to Hern and got him in that boat. It was Hern’s district, and he had the power to help with what she needed – federal funds. She didn’t need Hern to pull people out of the water or stack sandbags or man water pumps. That wasn’t his job. Hern’s job, his only job, was to vote for the funding to fix the levees protecting thousands of homes, businesses, and two oil refineries. But he didn’t do his job. He turned his back on Oklahomans. Hern voted NO to the funding to fix the levees included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2022 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Fortunately, Democrats controlled Congress and they voted YES to both Acts and Tulsa will receive $137.4 million to fix the levee system. Lankford and Inhofe – what about them? They both voted NO.
Karen Keith had been waiting for funding to fix the levee system since 2008. If not for Democrats, she would still be waiting. Karen Keith says she can work with anyone, including Republicans. That may be true, but no Republican – especially Hern – will work with her. That’s why Hern must go if Oklahoma is to move forward.
The videos are still there on YouTube – Hern sitting in a Tulsa County boat with Keith – looking at all those flooded houses and cars. You would almost think he felt some responsibility for the people he represents. You would be wrong. Hern doesn’t care about Oklahoma. He cares about preserving his status in MAGA world.
At some point, we need to end the far-right political extremism that is holding Oklahoma back. That point is now – with this election. Oklahoma will not move forward until we have elected leaders at the local, state, and federal level who believe in progress and solving problems. Those leaders won’t come from a Republican Party running against the federal government, intent on tearing down our fundamental institutions and dividing Americans against each other.
With your help, I will be your Representative in Congress who will work to move Oklahoma forward. A representative who believes in a better future for Oklahoma – better schools, better jobs, better infrastructure. I won’t let Oklahoma be left behind.
