WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on Democratic, Libertarian conventions to pick nominee for a southern Kansas congressional seat (all times local):
6:20 p.m.
The Libertarian Party overwhelmingly chose flight instructor Chris Rockhold as its candidate in a special congressional election to fill the seat vacated by CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
Rockhold defeated Gordon Bakken 17-3 on the first ballot Saturday evening in Wichita. John Kostner did not receive any votes.
The Wichita Eagle reports https://bit.ly/2kFcI8N that the instructor for Flight Safety International told the group that name recognition figures to be the most substantial obstacle he faces in the short run-up to the special election.
He said he will work to get voters focused on the issues, not party labels.
Republicans have represented the district since Todd Tiahrt unseated veteran Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman in 1994.
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3:10 p.m.
Kansas Democrats have picked civil rights attorney Jim Thompson to run for the U.S. House seat Mike Pompeo vacated when he became CIA director under President Donald Trump.
The 46-year-old Thompson will run against Republican state Treasurer Ron Estes in the April 11 special election.
Democrats view it as their best chance to win the seat representing the southern Kansas’ conservative 4th District due to voter discontent.
Republicans have represented the district since Todd Tiahrt unseated veteran Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman in 1994.
Thompson is a 46-year-old political newcomer and Army veteran.
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11:59 a.m.
Democrats are hoping to channel voter discontent into an upset as they pick their nominee Saturday for a south central Kansas congressional seat held for more than two decades by Republicans, but vacated when Mike Pompeo became President Donald Trump’s CIA director.
A special election April 11 will decide Pompeo’s replacement, the nation’s first special congressional election since Trump took office. Democrats view it as their best chance to flip a seat in a heavily Republican district.
Republicans have represented the district that encompasses the state’s largest city of Wichita since Todd Tiahrt unseated veteran Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman in 1994. Pompeo won the 4th District seat in 2010, when Tiahrt gave it up to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.
Democrats are hoping to channel voter discontent into an upset as they pick their nominee Saturday for a southern Kansas congressional seat held for more than two decades by Republicans but vacated recently by Mike Pompeo, who became President Donald Trump’s CIA director.
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