Washington ? The soaring campaign coffers of Democratic Rep. Nancy Boyda and the two Republicans vying to challenge her signal a tough and expensive contest in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.

The latest campaign finance reports show Boyda, a freshman from Topeka, with $654,000 cash on hand to spend on the race.

That tops former Kansas Republican Rep. Jim Ryun, who reported $364,789 in the bank. Ryun is trying to win back the seat he lost to Boyda in 2006, but he faces a strong primary challenge from State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins.

Jenkins reported $416,000 cash on hand, though that includes a $101,000 loan she made to her campaign last year.

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

State and national GOP officials are staying neutral in the primary race, which has already seen Ryun and Jenkins sniping at each other.

Ryun has had success courting longtime supporters in the Republican-leaning district, which includes west Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and much of southeast Kansas. He raised $202,599 in last three months of 2007 – more than twice as much as Jenkins, who took in $94,000.

But Ryun also spent $172,000 last quarter – nearly all of the money he raised. He has no debt.

Boyda is one of the top House targets for Republicans this year, but she could benefit from a rancorous Republican primary. Both Ryun and Jenkins are likely to spend much of what they’ve raised so far before the general election.

In a statement, Jenkins urged voters to “move forward with New Republican leadership focused on results,” which includes a message of “lower taxes, reduced spending, and secure borders.”

Ryun countered that “Kansans recognize my strong, consistent leadership in passing legislation to lower taxes and end illegal immigration.

“Kansans know I have always put their values first and their support demonstrates a strong belief in my ability to represent their best interests in Washington,” Ryun said.

Boyda has said she’s focusing on her work in Congress.

In another Kansas congressional race, Democratic Rep. Dennis Moore, of Lenexa, had $789,506 cash on hand at the end of last year, more than four times the $177,202 reported by his likely Republican opponent, state Sen. Nick Jordan.

Moore hauled in $207,380 during the last three months of 2007, while Jordan took in $144,000 over the same period. Jordan’s total was boosted by a December fundraising luncheon hosted by Vice President Dick Cheney.