HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent the Big First congressional district, which spans much of central and western Kansas and a portion of eastern Kansas. Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall won the tough contest against Huelskamp in Tuesday's primary, making him the strong favorite to take the seat in November. Marshall's supporters argued Huelskamp's combativeness has harmed the district. Huelskamp lost his seat on the House Agriculture Committee in 2012 and farm groups turned against him.
Huelskamp is a tea party favorite with a national profile from clashing with GOP leaders over farm and budget legislation. He was a critic of former House Speaker John Boehner. There is no Democratic candidate in this race. Clifton farmer and educator Alan LaPolice is poised to run as an independent and his name will likely appear on the November ballot. LaPolice ran for the GOP nomination in 2014, losing a closer-than-expected race against Huelskamp as an unknown. Huelskamp is one of only a handful of U.S. House members ousted in this year's primary season.
Elsewhere in federal office races in Kansas...
In the Kansas 3rd Congressional District...
A Kansas City-area businessman has won the Democratic nomination and will challenge Republican congressman Kevin Yoder in Kansas' 3rd District. Jay Sidie of Mission Woods defeated Reggie Marselus of Lenexa and Nathaniel McLaughlin of Kansas City, Kansas, in Tuesday's primary. Sidie formed the Counterpunch Financial investment firm in 2002 after working for energy and agribusiness companies. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has touted him as a strong candidate. Marselus is a retired electrician who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the seat in 2014. McLaughlin is an executive for a health care services company and has served as president of the Kansas NAACP. Yoder first won the seat in the GOP-leaning 3rd District in 2010 and is favored to win a fourth, two-year term.
Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder has won easy victory in the Republican primary in the 3rd District in the Kansas City area. Yoder defeated relatively unknown challenger Greg Goode of Louisburg. Yoder was first elected to Congress in 2010 and is seeking his fourth, two-year term. Democrats had a contested primary to pick a challenger in the November election. Yoder is favored to win again in the GOP-leaning district dominated politically by affluent Kansas City suburbs in Johnson County. But the Democratic Party has already tried to tie Yoder to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
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In the U.S. Senate Race...
A Lawrence attorney has won the Democratic nomination for a chance to face U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran in the general election. Patrick Wiesner on Tuesday defeated Monique Singh-Bey of Kansas City, Kansas, in the Democratic primary. During his campaign, Wiesner cited his professional experience with federal law as a tax attorney and Army lawyer. His campaign touted as his mission "paying off the government's debt," saying the first step is ending Washington lobbyists' control of the Senate. Wiesner will face Moran in November's general election. Moran was first elected to the Senate in 2010. He represented Kansas in the House from 1997 to 2010. Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932.
Republican voters in the deep red state of Kansas have given U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran their nomination in the state's primary. The Republican incumbent on Tuesday defeated Della Jean "D.J." Smith, a former Osawatomie city council member who ran against a sitting GOP senator for the second time. She ran in the 2014 Republican primary against U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, finishing far behind in third place that year. In the November general election, Moran will face the winner of the Democratic primary contest between Patrick Wiesner of Lawrence and Monique Singh-Bey of Kansas City, Kansas. Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932. The 62-year-old Moran was first elected to the Senate in 2010. He previously represented the state's 1st congressional district from 1997 to 2010.
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