(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers Jan. 27, 2014)
Nobody expected a reception to honor dolphins, but the crowd at the Kansas Republican Party state convention in Wichita last weekend was more conservative than it has been in decades…and even conservatives were being out-conservatived most of the celebratory weekend.
There was three-term U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins of the northeast Kansas 2nd District—and who is now dean of the state’s U.S. House delegation—who picked up a primary election opponent at the GOP love fest.
Freshman State Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, R-Leavenworth, announced his candidacy to defeat Jenkins, creating a GOP primary election. He linked Jenkins to the U.S. House leadership led by Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. That leadership link—Jenkins often is seen standing by Boehner at press conferences—made her too moderate for Fitzgerald.