Kansas Primary Heats Up with High-Profile Comeback Attempts for Open Congressional Seat

Political Comeback Bids Spur Interest in Kansas Primary for Open Congressional Seat

TOPEKA, Kan. – An open congressional seat in the eastern Kansas has sparked two political comeback attempts in the state’s Tuesday primary; one from the last Democrat to hold the seat and the other from a former Republican attorney general who was defeated in the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Republican Primary Contenders

Three-term former Attorney General Derek Schmidt has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the five-candidate GOP competition for the 2nd District. Standing against him are formidable opponents Shawn Tiffany, a rancher, and Jeff Kahrs, a top regional health official during Trump’s administration.

Many Republicans perceive Schmidt as the frontrunner even before Trump’s social media endorsement, partly due to Schmidt’s visibility from his close defeat against incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in 2022. The former President described him as an “An America First Patriot” and emphasized, “HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

Kahrs, on the other hand, highlighted that Trump selected him as a regional director at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and how he served as a district director and senior advisor for LaTurner. His campaign identified him as a “conservative warrior,” exploiting uncertainties from the far-right that have surrounded Schmidt throughout his political career.

The Democratic Race

In the Democratic race, former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, who held the seat in 2007 and 2008, is pitted against Matt Kleinmann; an advocate of community health and member of the 2008 national champion University of Kansas men’s basketball team.

Boyda has pitched herself towards the political middle, which has agitated some party activists. In a recent forum, she defended running a center-oriented, “general election” campaign from the beginning, citing Democrats’ decade-long losing streak since her solitary victory in 2006.

However, Boyda’s stance on transgender athletes drew sharp criticism from quarters like the Kansas Young Democrats, who called it “disgraceful”. Kleinmann, Boyda’s opponent in the primary, said during a forum, “Some of the bravest people I know in Kansas are Democrats in a very red district because they’re fighting for Kansas values, and that’s the values I want to defend in Congress”.

Other Contested Primaries

Republican voters would also be deciding contested primaries in two other districts where incumbents aim for reelection. In the Kansas City-area 3rd District, physician Prasanth Reddy faces small business owner Karen Crnkovich for a chance to challenge three-term U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the only Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation.

In the 1st District, which encompasses western Kansas, two-term U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann is likely to overpower Eric Bloom, a farmer, and real estate investor. Contested primaries were also held at the county level across Kansas and in several state Senate and state House districts. Polls were open across the state from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.