Today was primary election day in Kansas.
Current Governor Mark Parkison isn’t running for re-election. Tom Holland is the uncontested Democratic nominee. On the Republican side, however, Republican Senator Sam Brownback ran against Joan Heffington for the nomination. Brownback won an overwhelming majority of the vote today.
There were contests in both major political parties in the race for the nomination to succeed Brownback in the United States Senate. At this hour, Republican Congressman Todd Tiahrt is narrowly leading Republican Congressman Jerry Moran. Update: With 74 percent of precincts now in, Moran has pulled ahead of Tiahrt. Both are far ahead of Tom Little and Bob Londerholm. Lisa Johnston leads Charles Schollenberger on the Democratic side. David Haley is in third, and two other Democratic nominees run further behind.
In the 1st congressional district, Jerry Moran has left his seat behind, provoking many Republican candidates to struggle over their party’s nomination. Tim Huelskamp is in the lead in that contest, with Tracey Mann, linked to extremist group The Family, running second. The Democratic nominee, Alan Jilka, was not opposed by any from his party.
In the 2nd district, incumbent Lynn Jenkins is fending off Republican challenger Dennis Pyle by 58 to 42 percent – a respectable showing against a sitting member of Congress. On the democratic side, Thomas Koch has a solid lead over Cheryl Hudspeth and Sean Tevis. Update: Cheryl Hudspeth now has an eight-point lead, with 87 percent of precincts reporting
To replace the 3rd district’s retiring Blue Dog Democrat Dennis Moore, Stephene Moore has what seems like an insurmountable lead over Thomas Scherer. It seems we can expect Moore of the same from the Democrats in this district. The Republican race is more uncertain at this point, with Kevin Yoder leading over Patricia Lightner, and seven other Republicans trailing behind in the single digits. Update: Kevin Yoder retains a seven-point lead with 97 percent of precincts reporting.
In the 4th congressional district, from which Tiahrt is retiring, Raj Goyle will be the nominee, having defeated Robert Tillman. For the Republicans, Mike Pompeo is in the lead, followed by two opponents closely tied for second, Jean Schodorf and Wink Hartman. Jim Anderson and Paij Rutschman trail further behind.
