Thirty-year veteran of state, federal government to seek 2nd District congressional seat

TOPEKA — A former staff member for two Kansas congressmen and an appointee in the state and federal government Thursday said he would seek the Republican Party’s nomination to replace outgoing GOP U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner in the 2nd District.

Declared candidate Jeff Kahrs, who was a district director for LaTurner and a chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, was an appointee of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and an appointee of Gov. Sam Brownback at the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Kahrs, who could be part of a crowded campaign field in the eastern Kansas district, touched on familiar Republican concerns about securing the border with Mexico, reducing federal debt, slowing the rate of inflation and opposing abortion rights.

“Our nation is in peril. We have an open border, staggering debt, runaway inflation and a culture that celebrates sexual deviance and destruction of the family,” Kahrs said. “I will fight to stop the flood of illegal aliens, drugs and sex trafficking that’s coming across our southern border. I will be a powerful voice to restore our culture from one that aborts and mutilates children to one that honors the Lord and supports families.”

Meanwhile, former Kansas Livestock Association president Shawn Tiffany of Herington said he would likewise campaign for the GOP nomination in the 2nd District. He’s an owner of a large family-operated feedlot business and in 2022 testified to a U.S. Senate committee on cattle markets.

“I am looking forward to earning the right to serve the people of Kansas’ 2nd District,” he said. “I am humbled by the outpouring of support and excitement with this announcement.”

Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who lost a campaign for governor against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, also said he would file in the 2nd District.

Last week, LaTurner announced he wouldn’t seek reelection in 2024 in the district gerrymandered two years ago to include the northern half of Wyandotte County as well as Topeka, Leavenworth, Emporia and Junction City.

While the boundaries have changed over the years, a Republican has held the 2nd District since 2008. Lynn Jenkins represented the district for five terms before retiring. Steve Watkins was elected in 2018, but he lost reelection to LaTurner. LaTurner won reelection in 2022 with 57% of the vote, a slight improvement over his showing in 2020.

Kahrs, a Topeka resident who earned a law degree at Washburn University in 1993, was appointed to the federal HHS in 2017 with responsibilities in a four-state region that included Kansas. From 2011 to 2017, he was part of the Brownback administration as deputy secretary of the state Department for Children and Families.

In the 16 years prior to working for Brownback, Kahrs was a congressional staff member for Tiahrt, who represented a U.S. House district dominated by Wichita.