{"id":2243196,"date":"2024-05-13T04:05:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T08:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-surprise-decision-invokes-gop-free-for-all-in-house-district-democrats-hope-to-compete-in\/"},"modified":"2024-05-13T04:09:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T08:09:38","slug":"republicans-surprise-decision-invokes-gop-free-for-all-in-house-district-democrats-hope-to-compete-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-surprise-decision-invokes-gop-free-for-all-in-house-district-democrats-hope-to-compete-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Republican&#8217;s unexpected move sparks a competitive race in a contested House district"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublicans-surprise-decision-invokes-gop-free-for-all-in-house-district-democrats-hope-to-compete-in%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2243196&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep.\u2064 Jacob\u2062 LaTurner&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wheres-gavin-newsom-has-disappeared-from-view-since-oct-27\/\" title=\"Where's Gavin? Newsom Has Disappeared from View Since Oct. 27\">surprising announcement<\/a> not to seek reelection\u2062 in a \u2063traditionally Republican stronghold led to an \u2064open and fiercely contested\u200b House race\u2063 in\u2064 Kansas. Both parties scrambled \u200cto recruit candidates in \u2062the competitive district, setting the stage \u2063for a potentially close election in 2024. \u200bDemocrats view this as a\u2064 prime opportunity to \u200bchallenge and secure the seat. Rep.\u2064 Jacob\u2064 LaTurner&#8217;s unexpected\u200b decision not to run for reelection in \u200ba historically\u200c Republican \u200darea sparked a competitive \u200dHouse race\u2063 in Kansas. Both political parties rushed to enlist \u2063candidates,\u2062 anticipating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jim-jordan-loses-speaker-nomination-in-closely-contested-vote\/\" title=\"Jim Jordan narrowly misses out on becoming Speaker in closely fought election.\">closely fought election<\/a> in 2024. Democrats \u2063see this as a \u2063strategic\u200b chance to vie \u200bfor and \u2064win the seat.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Rep. Jacob LaTurner\u2019s (R-KS) decision not to run for reelection in the wake of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>House<\/a> turmoil shocked state Democrats and <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2997114\/mtg-motion-vacate-johnson-vote-results\/(opens%20in%20a%20new%20tab)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Republicans<\/a> alike.<\/p>\n<p>It resulted in an empty House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kansas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>race<\/a> that remained uncontested for weeks as both parties grappled to recruit candidates in a district that has been safe for Republicans. <\/p>\n<p>\u201c[LaTurner\u2019s decision] came as a surprise,\u201d Kansas GOP Chairman Mike Brown said in an interview with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cI was unaware that he was contemplating or had made that decision until everyone else found out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kansas\u2019s 2nd Congressional District encompasses the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-epa-pick-most-solar-energy-electric-vehicle-parts-come-from-china\/\" title=\"Biden EPA Pick: \u2018Most\u2019 Solar Energy, Electric Vehicle Parts \u2018Come From China\u2019\">state capital<\/a> of Topeka, most of Kansas City, and other parts of rural Kansas. Recent redistricting made the district lean slightly more Republican, according to <em>FiveThirtyEight<\/em>, but also <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.fivethirtyeight.com\/redistricting-2022-maps\/kansas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>included<\/a> a larger portion of liberal Kansas City. <\/p>\n<p>LaTurner previously had a tight grip on the district, securing the seat with more than 57% of the vote in 2022 and 55% in 2020, when he blew out Republican incumbent Steve Watkins in the primary.<\/p>\n<p>Republican incumbents have enjoyed general domination in the district, but elections have been competitive in the past. Democrats upset longtime incumbent Jim Ryun in 2006 before the GOP nabbed the seat back with Lynn Jenkins, who held it from 2008 to 2018. After defeating a crowded primary in 2018, Steve Watkins took over the district until LaTurner. <\/p>\n<p>Now, the 2024 elections look to be the best shot since for Democrats to claim the seat.<\/p>\n<p>Shawnee County Democrats Chairman Keith Tatum was also surprised by LaTurner\u2019s move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur reaction was pleasant surprise,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cWe did not see this coming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tatum also said he believes Democrats can be more competitive in the district and \u201cthat there\u2019s hope we might be able to turn this around.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s optimistic Democrats can mount a better challenge without a Republican incumbent and believes Kansas is considered more \u201cpurple\u201d than red in rural areas if you unpack the areas.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s Republican primary looks similar to the primary of 2018, with several candidates declaring their candidacy and many others suspected of gearing up for a run.<\/p>\n<h2>Brown contemplated the district\u2019s Republican prospects<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cCroft is a name that we\u2019re hearing a lot,\u201d Brown said, referencing state Sen. Chris Croft, who is endorsed by the Kansas Young Republicans for the seat but who has not declared his candidacy. He also named former gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt and state Sen. Karen Tyson, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-gop-rep-david-valadao-flips-california-house-seat-its-the-third-pickup-in-the-state-for-republicans\/\" title=\"Former GOP Rep. David Valadao flips California House seat. It's the third pickup in the state for Republicans.\">narrowly lost<\/a> in 2018, among those who have expressed interest in running in the 2nd District.<\/p>\n<p>Not long after the interview, Schmidt declared his candidacy.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>The former Kansas attorney general narrowly lost to Gov. Laura Kelly (D-KS) in 2022 and appears to have the most major political experience of any candidate in the race to date, having served as Kansas Senate majority leader from 2005 to 2011.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sunflowerstatejournal.com\/new-former-kla-president-to-run-for-congress-in-2nd-district\/\">Former<\/a> Kansas Livestock Association President Shawn Tiffany filed the same day and former LaTurner aide Jeff Kahrs three days later.<\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned Croft said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that he is focused on finishing the end of Kansas\u2019s 2024 legislative session, which adjourned April 30, and he and his wife \u201ccontinue to prayerfully consider how we can best be of service.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brown, the Kansas GOP chairman, said in a later update that Tyson and Croft\u2019s names \u201chave both gotten very quiet\u201d in the mix of Schmidt, Tiffany, and Kahrs.\u00a0None of the three candidates have documented any raised funds for their campaigns yet.<\/p>\n<p>While Republicans finally filed into the race weeks later, Democrats may have botched a major opportunity to compete in the district.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic candidate Eli Woody was running for the Democratic nomination in the district and raised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/candidates\/house\/?election_year=2024&#038;election_full=True&#038;party=DEM&#038;state=KS&#038;district=02&#038;is_active_candidate=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>about<\/a> $40,000 in campaign funds before suspending his House campaign and switching to running for state office.<\/p>\n<p>That was about a month before LaTurner declared he wouldn\u2019t run.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really wish that Eli had stayed in the race because he would clearly be the front-runner now and potentially all the way through,\u201d Tatum said before Republicans filed for the seat.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Democrats intend to run a candidate regardless of the short notice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re hopeful,\u201d he said. \u201cWe think that we\u2019ve got a shot here and we\u2019re just looking to identify the candidate that\u2019s best positioned to bring home the win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When contacted, Woody referred the <em>Washington<\/em> <em>Examiner<\/em> to a statement in the wake of Turner\u2019s retirement saying he is running for state office and justified staying out of the race by saying whoever runs for Republicans will receive \u201clarge sums\u201d of money \u201cfrom groups like those funded by Mr. Koch.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<blockquote data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Regarding Jake LaTurner\u2019s announcement today. <\/p>\n<p>If you would like to help end the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ksleg?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ksleg<\/a> GOP supermajority in the statehouse by helping flip a VERY flippable seat, the link is in the bio! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/edn3yf1hXC\">pic.twitter.com\/edn3yf1hXC<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Eli Woody for Kansas (@Woody4Kansas) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Woody4Kansas\/status\/1781042733181997112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Brown previously said he suspects Democrats will put a lot of resources into the open seat and \u201cgiven the balance in Congress right now, that every district that doesn\u2019t have any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/18-democrats-will-abandon-the-house-more-than-triple-gop-needs-to-win-back-majority\/\" title=\"18 Democrats Will Abandon the House -- More than Triple GOP Needs to Win Back Majority\">strong incumbent<\/a> in it is in play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That balance is only a four-seat Republican advantage, and if Democrats somehow stole the Kansas seat away from the GOP, it could do enough to help flip the House in their favor.<\/p>\n<p>But as of May 10, no other Democrats have filed to run for the seat as the Aug. 6 primary approaches. Patrick Schmidt, a former Navy officer who ran against LaTurner for the seat in 2022, is now running for a state Senate seat. <\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>contacted his campaign asking if he was interested in running for the 2nd District but did not receive a response. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The district is one of only four House seats in the state and the second-most competitive before the neighboring 3rd District, represented by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), in a 2024 race projected to be competitive.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Cook Political Report<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\">rates<\/a> the race as \u201csolid Republican\u201d and doesn\u2019t project it to be competitive. LaTurner and Kansas Democratic Chairwoman Jeanna Repass were contacted for this story by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> but did not respond.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Jacob LaTurner&#8217;s (R-KS) surprise announcement not to seek reelection amid House upheaval stunned Kansas Democrats and Republicans. The vacant House race, unchallenged for weeks, sparked a frenzy as both parties scrambled to find candidates in a traditionally Republican stronghold. LaTurner&#8217;s unexpected decision left a void, signaling a shift in the district&#8217;s political dynamics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2243197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP22159689325779-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2243196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP22159689325779-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2243196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2243197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2243196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2243196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2243196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}