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.
Kendra 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]
On 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]
Horn 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.