AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the Kansas state primaries
Kansas voters will choose their parties’ nominees for the U.S. House, the state legislature and the state Board of Education in primaries next week
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas voters will choose their parties’ nominees for the U.S. House, the state legislature and the state Board of Education in primaries on Tuesday.
The elections aren’t likely to change the balance of power in Washington or Topeka, but many November races will essentially be determined in Tuesday’s primaries in the heavily Republican state.
In the 2nd Congressional District, both Democrats and Republicans are holding primaries to succeed two-term GOP U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, who announced in April he would not seek reelection. Among the five candidates seeking the Republican nomination is Derek Schmidt, the former three-term state attorney general who unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in the 2022 gubernatorial election. Also seeking the nomination are former LaTurner aide and Trump-era Health and Human Services official Jeff Kahrs, rancher Shawn Tiffany and two others. Schmidt has led the field in campaign contributions, with Kahrs largely keeping pace as of mid-July.
Democrats also have a contested primary, featuring former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, who served one term from 2007 to 2009, and Matt Kleinmann, a community health advocate and former University of Kansas basketball player.
