Jenkins holds big fundraising lead in 2nd District over Wakefield

? Political action committees made up the bulk of campaign contributions to both candidates in the 2nd District congressional race, with most of it going to incumbent Republican Lynn Jenkins, who holds a strong fundraising lead over her Democratic challenger, Lawrence attorney Margie Wakefield.

According to campaign finance reports that are now posted on the Federal Election Commission website, Jenkins, from Topeka, received $382,106 in contributions during the three-month period that ended June 30. Two thirds of that, or $254,000, came from political action committees.

That’s more than twice as much as Wakefield received. Her campaign reported $135,130 in contributions, including $19,750, or about 15 percent, from PACs.

For the entire election cycle so far, Jenkins has taken in slightly more than $1.7 million, with about 59 percent of that coming from PACs, compared to $490,000 for Wakefield, with 86 percent of that coming from individuals.

Jenkins, who is vice chair of the House Republican Caucus, is seeking her fourth term in Congress. She began the election cycle with nearly $800,000 in her campaign fund and heads into the general election cycle with nearly $2.4 million in cash on hand.

Wakefield is making her first bid for elected office. She has spent about $255,000 of the money she raised so far, leaving $236,000 in cash on hand.