Enjoying large advantages in money and voter registration, U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, on Tuesday was winning a third term in Congress over political newcomer Tobias Schlingensiepen.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., watches results with Kansas house candidate Shanti Gandhi , left, at the Republican election watch party in Topeka, Kan., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
Jenkins held a 55 percent to 39 percent lead over Schlingensiepen, a Topeka minister, with almost all precincts counted. Libertarian Dennis Hawver, an attorney from Ozawkie, had 6 percent.
The new wrinkle thrown into the race was the order by three federal judges in June that placed all of Lawrence and Douglas County into the 2nd District. For the previous 10 years, Lawrence had been divided between the 2nd and Johnson County-based 3rd districts.
But even with Democratic-leaning Douglas County wholly in the 2nd, Jenkins enjoyed a nearly 10 percentage-point advantage in Republican registered voters in the district that includes most of eastern Kansas, stretching from the state's borders with Nebraska to Oklahoma.
In campaign finance, Jenkins reported having $1.4 million in cash on hand in the final month of the campaign, while Schlingensiepen's warchest was at $50,420.
During the race, Schlingensiepen said lobbyist wining and dining and special interest campaign contributions were corrupting Congress, and he said Jenkins was part of that problem.
He noted that she took hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from banks, insurance and financial companies while voting against regulations of those interests that he said were aimed at safeguarding consumers.
But Jenkins, a former state legislator and state treasurer, said she voted against regulations that hurt small banks in the district.
She touted her record of voting against President Barack Obama's proposals, including a vote to repeal Obamacare.
“They believe government can solve our problems, while I believe that in many cases, government is the problem,” she said of Democrats.
On the issue of Medicare, Schlingensiepen said the proposed overhaul that Jenkins voted for would have increased the cost of health care by more than $6,000 per senior citizen, but Jenkins said the plan was necessary to keep Medicare from going bankrupt.
The two also disagreed on funding to Public Broadcasting. Schlingensiepen defended the relatively small amount of government dollars, while Jenkins said she would pull the plug.
Jenkins said after the election she believed Congress would work on an overhaul of the tax system in a way to lower rates and eliminate loopholes.
Schlingensiepen had survived a three-candidate primary, defeating runner-up Bob Eye, an attorney from Lawrence.
Last year, Schlingensiepen, a minister at First Congregational Church, helped form a coalition to fight Brownback when the Republican governor proposed shutting down the Kansas Neurological Institute, which is a state hospital that serves those with profound disabilities. KNI remains open.
Jenkins, a certified public accountant, defeated former GOP Rep. Jim Ryun in the 2008 primary and then Democratic incumbent Nancy Boyda, who had unseated Ryun two years earlier.
Comments
merrill 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Jenkins where did you get your money?
What are the people's names behind the money? How many names are ashamed to be seen with the money?
johndeere 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Ask BO where he got his money. Unions and bailouts spell BIG MONEY for BO.
vertigo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Ads and name recognition.
I saw exactly one ad from Schlingensiepen over the course of the campaign, and that was Monday evening. I don't recall seeing any yard signs.
Whereas I saw many flyers and too many yard signs to count for Jenkins. She had her name plastered over everything.
Now I follow politics pretty closely and I had heard of Tobias and knew where he stood on the issues, but I imaging most people hadn't. How do you expect to win if no one has heard your name prior to reading the ballot?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 6 months, 2 weeks ago
"Ads and name recognition."
That pretty well sums it up.
I hope Schlingensiepen doesn't end his political career with this election. We deserve someone of integrity and capable of independent thought, not a corrupt, bought-and-paid-for apparatchik.
jhawkinsf 6 months, 2 weeks ago
"Ads and name recognition."
And more people voting for one candidate than the other. From Obama to Jenkins to the local dog catcher, the person with the most votes won.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 6 months, 2 weeks ago
My, aren't you the rocket scientist this morning.
jhawkinsf 6 months, 2 weeks ago
The fact is that if you believe that ads and name recognition equals votes, then you don't think too highly of the electorate. And if you do have such distain for the wisdom of the voters, why celebrate the victories of some while bemoaning the losses of others?
According to your logic, we'd do as well with a monkey and a dartboard. Me, I celebrate Obama's victory and wish him well. Same with Jenkins. Same the dog catcher.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Republicans certainly have an edge in Kansas because of the large number of voters who vote on party affiliation alone, but if Schlingensiepen can keep himself in the public eye over the next two years, and has a million bucks to even the playing field in terms of name recognition, the outcome could be very different.
jhawkinsf 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Wait, I'm confused. While the final numbers are not in yet, it appears likely that Romney/Republican PACs outspent Obama/Democratic PACs, yet the voters saw through that and elected Obama anyway. Of course, Obama outspent McCain and won. So he wins when he outspends and he wins when he is outspent. But you're suggesting money determines the outcome of elections. Hmmm.
Or is your claim that when your guy wins, it was because voters were more enlightened and chose the better candidate but when your guy loses, the voters had the wool pulled over their eyes by "ads and name recognition"?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 6 months, 2 weeks ago
OK, I admit it. You're 100% right-- money makes absolutely no difference in politics. You're a genius for divining that eternal truth,
jhawkinsf 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Something we can finally agree on. :-)
vertigo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
You're seriously comparing a national election in which both parties candidates are well known to the entire constituency to a district election in which one name is well know and the other is a newcomer to politics? Could you name the third party candidates for the Presidency that were on the ballot prior to reading their names when you voted?
In this instance had Tobias had the funding Jenkins had I believe he would have been a lot more recognizable to the electorate. Half of my friends had never even heard of the guy when I brought up the Jenkins race in our conversations... because they don't follow politics as closely and most of us on here do. Advertising could change that.
Would it have changed the election? Doubtful... but it may have been a lot closer than it was.
jhawkinsf 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Vertigo, please, and I mean with with all respect, think about some of the implications of what you just said.
You're advocating that people who have little or no interest in politics should get their information from ads and yards signs, and then vote based on that.
The fact is there is a huge amount of information out there for people to read and make informed choices. If they aren't interested in politics, urge them to get their information from those sources. Unfortunately, your suggestion is no better than urging people to vote Democrat because your favorite color is blue or Republican if your favorite color is red. Yard signs are great, if you're running for third grade president, not so much for actual positions of responsibility.
BTW - I go through East Lawrence every day and have seen many, many Tobias signs. I voted for Tobias. Yard signs and ads aren't why he lost. He lost because we have a long history of returning incumbents to office unless they have royally screwed up. Jenkins is a prime example of that. As is Obama.
vertigo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
"You're advocating that people who have little or no interest in politics should get their information from ads and yards signs, and then vote based on that."
No, what I'm saying is they DO get their information from ads, yard signs, and the fact they either have a (D) or (R) behind their name is often enough for them.
I'm saying if they don't know who the opponent is (ads and yard signs do that job) then a lot of people aren't going to spend the energy to find out for themselves. They'll vote their party an be done with it.
Mind you I live in a rural community so the yard signs were heavily skewed.
jhawkinsf 6 months, 2 weeks ago
If what you suggest is true, then we've reached a very sad state of affairs. Unfortunately, I think your suggestion is correct.
Catalano 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm pretty sure Tobias is in this for the long haul. This wasn't a one-shot deal for him. He'll be back.
johndeere 6 months, 2 weeks ago
So glad you are all knowing on how voters think when they vote. You must be God since you know everything.
MarcoPogo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Wait, who won Dog Catcher? I can't find it in the results.
JJE007 6 months, 2 weeks ago
jhawkinsf, Are you saying that the more ads candidates distribute, the more illogical they are? Interesting...
KEITHMILES05 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Quite different where I live as I saw overwhelming number of Tobias signs and very, very few Jenkins. Sadly, it is the rural votes who go GOP. She is a do nothing knee knocker of a legislator.
johndeere 6 months, 2 weeks ago
She won, get over it.
vertigo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Fair enough. I do live in a rural community... so there's that.
appleaday 6 months, 2 weeks ago
You apparently have been driving around the wrong parts of town.
Liberty275 6 months, 2 weeks ago
He looked like a roly-poly loser anyway.
caughtinthemiddle 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Excellent comment, pithy and full of political savvy. Rather complements the rest of your posts.
Liberty275 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Did I ask for your opinion, nobody?
caughtinthemiddle 6 months, 2 weeks ago
You posted on a public forum, so, yes, you invited my opinion. And it stands.
Liberty275 6 months, 2 weeks ago
From now on if I want your opinion, I'll rattle your chain.
merrill 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Thanks to our Lawrence delegation of democrats who stepped up in order to maintain a bit of sanity in a sea of insanity.
On the national scene Republicans have never been about smaller government nor have ever reduced the size of government nor reduced the size of spending ever. In fact it has been quite the opposite. Republicans are not paying attention. Republicans are getting used every day.
Considering the party of NO is still running the house I will encourage President Obama to step up and make use of his executive privilege throughout the next 4 years.
The republicans of which they are NOT do not wish to build bridges. Tearing down bridges has been their claim to fame since Reagan/Bush. Don't waste time on matters that cannot succeed.
The nation cannot afford another 4 years of NO.
Solomon 6 months, 2 weeks ago
"The nation cannot afford another 4 years of NO."
I think you meant, The nation cannot afford another 4 years of BO."
landon_alger 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Perhaps you missed the news this morning about the presidential election results.
I think Merill meant what he said.
happypill4014 6 months, 2 weeks ago
That is really a shame. I had hoped Jenkins might finally be unseated. She is just terrible. Given the difference in monetary funding, it isn't surprising...
Agnostick 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Gee, certain folks are certainly quiet. Didn't I just see rockchalk1977 lurking around here...?
ThirdStone 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I know Rev. Schlingensiepen, he is a person of high integrity, great intelligence and a wonderful sense of humor. Those who don't know him would have seen all that in the televised debate. With more funds and name recognition he would definitely have won this election. I sincerely hope he wins the next one.
bevy 6 months, 2 weeks ago
It's simple - Lynn had more and bigger yard signs, more ads, and more name recognition, because the corporations and special interests who bought and paid for her representation made sure that was the case. I hope Tobias will give it another run next time around.
caughtinthemiddle 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I don't think the amount of money spent by Tobias would have changed the outcome. Unfortunately, Lynn represents the kind of -- dare I say -- tea party thinking that exists in the majority of voting Kansans' mind. Until the people of Kansas wake up to what the new Republican party means, few of Tobias's kind will be welcome at the polls. Money is important, yes, but inertia seems, at least in Kansas, to be more important.
I think that's what jhawkinsf was trying to say before being railroaded onto another topid altogether.
JackMcKee 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Jenkins is horrible.
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