TL;DR
The International Franchise Association (IFA) endorses Kevin Hern for U.S. Senate, citing his support for franchised businesses in Congress. Hern, a McDonald's franchisee, has championed franchises and serves as co-chairman of the Congressional Franchise Caucus.
“Kevin Hern has always had the back of franchised businesses in Congress, and we are proud to support his run for the U.S. Senate,” said Michael Layman, IFA Chief Advocacy Officer. “As someone who sold his hog farm to buy a McDonald’s restaurant that kickstarted his entrepreneurial journey, Rep. Hern is living proof of the power of franchising. In Congress, he has championed franchises at every step of the way, and we look forward to the leadership he would provide in the Senate.”
In the U.S. House, Hern serves as the co-chairman of the Congressional Franchise Caucus.
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 832,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $920 billion of economic output for the U.
S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.
In this story
This story was originally published in Franchising.com on March 12, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
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