WASHINGTON — The path seemed clear for Matt Kleinmann in the Democratic primary for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.

The community developer from Wyandotte County was tapped by the Kansas Democratic Party. He made an introduction video and announced his campaign for Congress. He was the only Democrat in the race.

Then, right before the filing deadline, former Rep. Nancy Boyda threw her hat back in the ring.

For all but two years since 1995, Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District has been represented by a Republican. Boyda is the exception.

In 2006, on the back of a Democratic wave in opposition to the presidency of George W. Bush, Boyda upset former Rep. Jim Ryun by four percentage points. It was short-lived. Republicans reclaimed the seat in 2008 and have held it for the past 16 years.

Now, with the retirement of Rep. Jake LaTurner, Kansas Democrats hope to pull off another upset. But first, Democrats will have to choose between Boyda and Kleinmann in the August 6 primary.

“Boyda ran a great, really successful and smart campaign in 2006,” said Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University. “But that was a long time ago.”

Already, Republicans are engaged in a crowded primary. Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is the early frontrunner, but Jeff Kahrs, a longtime Republican staffer who served in the Trump administration, has received endorsements from former Gov. Sam Brownback and former Reps. Todd Tiahart and Jim Ryun.

The 2nd District contains some of Wyandotte County and Topeka, it stretches through rural counties in the northeast to rural counties in the southeast. While Democrats have long struggled in Kansas – over the past decade, the party has struggled especially in rural areas.

Boyda, who works a small farm outside of Baldwin City, is running as a self-proclaimed moderate. She grew up Republican and called herself fluent in both Republican and Democrat.

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