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Steve Watkins

TOPEKA — Political newcomer Steve Watkins claimed victory in the hotly contested Republican primary for Kansas’ 2nd District congressional seat, even though the race had not yet been officially called late Tuesday night.

As of 11:20 p.m., with 96 percent of precincts reporting, Watkins, a military veteran from Topeka, led his nearest rival, Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, 26 percent to 23 percent, a margin of fewer than 2,000 votes.

Watkins was a political unknown when he jumped into the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, of Topeka. His campaign focused on his military experience as a West Point graduate who served in the U.S. Army’s special operations forces in Afghanistan.

But Watkins got help from a super PAC established by his father, a Topeka physician, as well as other outside money.

Late in the campaign, his rivals in the race began questioning his conservative credentials. Besides Tyson, they included Sens. Steve Fitzgerald, of Leavenworth, and Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha, as well as Rep. Kevin Jones, of Wellsville, and former Kansas House Speaker Doug Mays, of Topeka.

Whoever eventually wins the race will go on to face former Rep. Paul Davis, of Lawrence, in the general election.

The 2nd District is considered a toss-up race by many political handicappers. Davis, who ran a close race for governor against Republican Sam Brownback in 2014, has raised more money than all the Republicans combined. He was unchallenged in the Democratic primary.