Kendra Suzanne Horn (born June 9, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, her district included almost all of Oklahoma City.[1]
Kendra Horn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Russell |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Bice |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kendra Suzanne Horn June 9, 1976 Chickasha, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Tulsa (BA) Southern Methodist University (JD) |
Horn defeated Republican incumbent Steve Russell in the 2018 election, in what many political analysts considered an upset victory. She was the first Democrat to represent the state's 5th congressional district in 44 years and the first Oklahoma Democrat elected to Congress in eight years. She was the first Democratic woman elected to the House from Oklahoma. Horn lost her 2020 re-election bid to Republican challenger Stephanie Bice, after serving one term. She is the most recent Democrat to represent Oklahoma in Congress.
She was the Democratic nominee in the Oklahoma Senate special election in 2022 losing to Markwayne Mullin.
Early life and education
editBorn in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Horn was a member of the Girl Scouts and received the Gold Award. Horn received her bachelor's degree in political science with Omicron Delta Kappa honors from the University of Tulsa in 1998. In 2001, Horn received her J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. She also studied at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.[2]
Early career
editKendra Horn worked in private practice as a lawyer at a small firm in Dallas, Texas before opening a solo practice in 2002. Horn served as the press secretary to United States Congressman Brad Carson (OK-02) from 2004 to 2005. She went on to work for the Space Foundation first as Manager of Government Affairs at their D.C. office and later as the Manager of Communication and Media Relations until 2008. She also worked as a strategic consultant with Amatra, a communication technology firm, beginning in 2009. During the 2014 Oklahoma gubernatorial election, Horn managed the political campaign of Democratic nominee Joe Dorman. In addition, Horn co-founded and served as executive director of Sally's List, an Oklahoma-based organization that recruits and supports women candidates, and Women Lead Oklahoma, a nonpartisan nonprofit that trains and supports women to encourage community and civic action.[3][4][5][6]
U.S. House of Representatives
edit
Elections
edit2018
editOn July 3, 2017, Horn announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for United States House of Representatives to Oklahoma's fifth congressional district.[7] After receiving 44% of the vote in the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, Horn and primary opponent Tom Guild advanced to the primary runoff.[8] During the August 28 primary, Horn received 76% of the vote, easily defeating Tom Guild and becoming the Democratic nominee.[9]
Horn defeated Republican Steve Russell in the November 6 general election with 50.7% to his 49.3% of the vote, in what was widely considered one of the most stunning upsets of the cycle.[10] Nearly every major rating organization believed Russell would win, and FiveThirtyEight only gave Horn a 14% percent chance of winning.[10] Ultimately, Horn won by defeating Russell in Oklahoma County, home to three-fourths of the district's population, by 9,900 votes, more than three times the overall margin of 3,300 votes.[11] She garnered support from female Republican voters in an election largely seen as a referendum against President Donald Trump.[12]
When Horn took office, she became the first Democrat to represent the district since John Jarman in 1974, who switched parties to become a Republican midway through what would be his final term.[10]
2020
editHorn won the Democratic nomination for her seat in the 2020 primary. She faced Republican Oklahoma State Senator Stephanie Bice in the 2020 general election.[12] Bice defeated Horn in the 2020 election, returning the seat to Republican control.
After the 2020 election, Horn joined former Congress members Xochitl Torres Small and Joe Cunningham to launch Shield PAC, a political action committee that hopes to raise funds to defend moderate Democrats in swing districts.[13]
Tenure
editOn January 3, 2019, the first day of the 116th United States Congress,[14] Congresswoman Horn joined 219 other Democrats to support Nancy Pelosi in the chamber-wide election for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.[15] When explaining her decision to support Pelosi, Horn mentioned that the Democratic and Republican nominees were Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy, respectively, and said that Pelosi's support for improving health care, strengthening Medicare and Social Security, and supporting public education aligned with her successful campaign platform in the 2018 election and therefore with her goals in Congress.[16] The admission of Horn to the New Democrat Coalition was announced on January 23.[17] On January 29, Horn announced she was joining the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate and conservative Democrats.[18] Horn is considered to be a moderate Democrat.[19]
On December 18, 2019, Horn voted for both articles of impeachment against President Trump.[20]
Committee assignments
editCaucus memberships
edit2022 U.S. Senate campaign
editIn March 2022, Horn announced that she would be running in the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma after Jim Inhofe announced his retirement.[27][28] Horn ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.[29] She lost the general election to Republican candidate Markwayne Mullin.[30]
Personal life
editHorn was born and raised in Chickasha, Oklahoma.[1] She is an Episcopalian.
She is not biologically related to Madison Horn, the Democratic nominee for the other senate election held in parallel in Oklahoma.
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kendra Horn | 34,857 | 43.8 | |
| Democratic | Tom Guild | 14,242 | 17.9 | |
| Democratic | Elysabeth Britt | 10,739 | 13.5 | |
| Democratic | Eddie Porter | 8,447 | 10.6 | |
| Democratic | Leona Kelley-Leonard | 6,693 | 8.4 | |
| Democratic | Tyson Todd Meade | 4,527 | 5.7 | |
| Total votes | 79,505 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kendra Horn | 22,052 | 75.8 | |
| Democratic | Tom Guild | 7,039 | 24.2 | |
| Total votes | 29,091 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kendra Horn | 121,149 | 50.7 | |
| Republican | Steve Russell (incumbent) | 117,811 | 49.3 | |
| Total votes | 238,960 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kendra Horn (incumbent) | 60,168 | 85.69 | |
| Democratic | Tom Guild | 10,050 | 14.31 | |
| Total votes | 70,218 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stephanie Bice | 158,044 | 52.1 | |
| Democratic | Kendra Horn (incumbent) | 145,541 | 47.9 | |
| Total votes | 303,585 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Markwayne Mullin | 710,643 | 61.8 | ||
| Democratic | Kendra Horn | 405,389 | 35.2 | ||
| Libertarian | Robert Murphy | 17,386 | 1.5 | ||
| Independent | Ray Woods | 17,063 | 1.5 | ||
| Total votes | 1,150,481 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Kendra Horn's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ "Space Foundation names Kendra S. Horn manager of communication and media relations". Space Foundation. January 23, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Kendra Horn". Archives of Women's Political Communication. Iowa State University. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ "Mission & Vision". Women Lead Oklahoma. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ "At Oklahoma City event, Kendra Horn launches campaign for Democratic nomination in the Fifth Congressional District". The City Sentinel. July 14, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ "Pleading the 5th". OK Gazette. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ McGuigan, Patrick B. "At Oklahoma City event, Kendra Horn launches campaign for Democratic nomination in the Fifth Congressional District". Capitol Beat OK. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ Wingerter, Justin (June 26, 2018). "Democratic congressional field narrows to Kendra Horn and Tom Guild in Oklahoma City district". NewsOK.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Wingerter, Justin (August 28, 2018). "Kendra Horn cruises past Tom Guild in congressional runoff, will face Steve Russell". NewsOK.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c Wingerter, Justin (November 6, 2018). "Kendra Horn upsets Steve Russell in an Oklahoma City Stunner". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Oklahoma House results from CNN
- ^ a b Griffin, David. "News 9 Exclusive Poll: Kendra Horn, Stephanie Bice In Dead Heat 54 Days From Election". www.news9.com. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ Contreras, Russell (April 2, 2021). "Ousted Democrats start PAC to defend moderates in 2022". axios.com. Axios. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Election of the Speaker". U.S. House of Representatives Roll Call Votes. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- ^ Haas, Karen. "FINAL RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 2: ELECTION OF THE SPEAKER". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ Bowman, Bridget (January 4, 2019). "Vulnerable new Democrats savor first day as 2020 looms". Roll Call. FiscalNote. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ "New Democrat Coalition Inducts 9 Additional Members". New Democrat Coalition. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "Blue Dogs Welcome Reps. Ed Case, Joe Cunningham, and Kendra Horn". Blue Dog Coalition. January 29, 2019. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
- ^ Frazin, Rachel (November 4, 2020). "Kendra Horn concedes to Stephanie Bice in Oklahoma, flipping seat back to GOP". The Hill. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ Panetta, Grace. "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to Committees for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on January 16, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to Committees for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "Kendra Horn to chair space subcommittee". NewsOK.com. January 31, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "Blue Dogs Welcome Reps. Ed Case, Joe Cunningham, and Kendra Horn". Blue Dog Coalition. January 29, 2019. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "New Democrat Coalition Inducts 9 Additional Members". New Democrat Coalition. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "Democrat Horn joins crowded US Senate race in Oklahoma". AP NEWS. March 15, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ Casteel, Chris (March 15, 2022). "Kendra Horn files for Jim Inhofe's Senate seat". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "What happened in Tuesday's elections in seven states". Roll Call. June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ KOCO Staff (November 9, 2022). "Oklahoma Election Results: Markwayne Mullin wins race for US Senate, claiming Inhofe's open seat". KOCO. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "OK Election Results". Oklahoma Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ "November 08 2022 Oklahoma Unofficial Results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
External links
edit
- Kendra Horn for US Senate Archived November 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
