Crowded field looks to succeed Jim Bridenstine

With 1st District Congressman Jim Bridenstine keeping his term-limits pledge (*cough*, got that, Congressman Mullin?) and not seeking a fourth term, the race to succeed him is beginning to heat up. Already, four candidates have filed committees with the Federal Election Commission.

Candidates so far as:

• Andy Coleman
• Kevin Hern 
• Scott Pendleton
• Danny Stockstill

Coleman announced his candidacy on January 13th, Pendleton filed with the FEC on January 19th, Stockstill filed with the FEC on February 10th, while Hern made his campaign official on March 9th.

Here's a brief background on the candidates:

Andy Coleman served in the U.S. Air Force (with a tour in Iraq), practiced law, and most recently worked at Voice of the Martyrs, an interdenominational ministry serving persecuted Christians across the globe.

Kevin Hern is a businessman who got his start in Muskogee, buying two McDonald's franchises in the late 90's, which turned into a larger organization of 10 McDonald's restaurants that employ over 450 people in the Tulsa area.

Scott Pendleton is a tech businessman who previously was a journalist, including several years reporting overseas in the Middle East and North Africa.

Danny Stockstill has a very rudimentary website up, with the only information available being a donate page. He is the pastor of Brookside Baptist Church in Tulsa.

Of the candidates so far, Hern is the prohibitive favorite. Coleman and Pendleton might also be considered serious candidates, but since no fundraising reports have been filed yet by the candidates, it's a little hard to get a feel for how competitive they will be able to be.