Campaign funds pouring into 2nd District congressional race

? Two Republicans vying to challenge Kansas Democratic Rep. Nancy Boyda are prepared to pour plenty of money into the hotly contested race.

Former Kansas Republican Rep. Jim Ryun has $335,000 in cash on hand in his bid to win back the seat he lost to Boyda last year.

Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, who is running against Ryun in the GOP primary, has $360,000 in the bank.

Boyda, meanwhile, has about $460,000 in the bank.

The numbers were included Monday in quarterly reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Boyda defeated Ryun 51 percent to 47 percent last year in the Republican-leaning district, which includes western Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and much of southeast Kansas.

Since then, Ryun has been campaigning full time. Over the last three months, he raised about $250,000, while Boyda raised $171,145. Jenkins pulled in $118,000 during the same period.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has targeted Boyda for defeat and is pledging to spend money to help the GOP nominee win.

Ryun said in a statement that he is “grateful to the surge of volunteers who have committed their time and efforts to retake this seat.”

He called his commitment to lowering taxes and curbing wasteful spending “a clear contrast to the record of his opponents.”

Jenkins said her supporters backed her message “of ending wasteful spending, lowering taxes and ending illegal immigration.”

Boyda chief of staff Shanan Guinn said the congresswoman “remains focused on doing her job and serving the people of the Second District in Washington.”

All three candidates reported significant debt. Boyda has $286,742 in debt from a previous loan she made to her campaign. Jenkins has about $101,000 in debt from a personal loan and Ryun has about $42,000 in debt.