TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins’ announcement that she has no plans to seek office in two years shakes up the Kansas Republican gubernatorial race in which she had been expected to run - and possibly other campaigns.
Kansas Republican Party Executive Director Clay Barker said Jenkins’ decision to return to the private sector when her term ends came as somewhat of a surprise, The Lawrence Journal-World (https://bit.ly/2k7ANWm ) reports. Barker said the decision, which was announced Wednesday, could set up wide-open primaries up and down the ballot in 2018.
“I think 2018 is going to be very interesting,” Barker said. “There was the rumor that she was going to run for governor. Now it’s clear she’s not running for governor, which means the primary will be wide open. And the primary for 2nd District will be wide open.”
Although no one has made any announcement, names mentioned on the Republican side, either for governor or Congress, have included Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
If either of them opt to run for another office, that would set up open primaries for those seats. In addition, two new U.S. House members from Kansas will be up for their first re-elections in 2018: Rep. Roger Marshall, who was elected for the first time in 2016; and whoever wins the upcoming April 11 special election to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Mike Pompeo, who has been named CIA director.
Jenkins’ decision opens up possibilities for Democrats as well.
“I think Democrats have always had a strong opportunity to take back the governor’s office in 2018,” said Kansas House Democratic Leader Jim Ward, of Wichita. “That’s a very competitive district, so I think you’ll see several people look at that.”
Jenkins, a five-term U.S. House veteran, is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which will be in the middle of this year’s GOP effort to replace President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul and revamp the federal tax code.
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Information from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, https://www.ljworld.com
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