Race Analysis

One of the biggest surprises of 2006 was when Republican Rep. Jim Ryun lost to Democrat Nancy Boyda. But in 2008, the district’s fundamentals were too much for Boyda to overcome; she lost by four points to Lynn Jenkins.

Jenkins has proved a solid vote-getter in her two re-election efforts, facing stronger challenges from within her party than from without. But, in a bid to shore up the neighboring 3rd District, her Topeka-based district was made more Democratic through the addition of left-leaning Lawrence (University of Kansas). Though her R+6 district is still solidly Republican, the divisions within the Republican Party that the Brownback administration and the Roberts re-election fight have exposed could create an opening for Douglas County Democratic Chair Margie Wakefield.