Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins has launched a new state-level political action committee to help Republican candidates running this year for the Kansas House and Senate, primarily within the 2nd Congressional District.

Paperwork for the new PAC, known as Jenkins Ad Astra PAC, was filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission March 8.

“She’s obviously interested in what’s going on in the state Legislature and wants to be involved, and she felt this would be the best way to do it,” said Patrick Leopold, Jenkins’ chief of staff.

Jenkins, a Republican from Topeka, represents the 2nd District of Kansas, which includes Lawrence and most of eastern Kansas outside the Kansas City metropolitan area. Before being elected to Congress in 2008, Jenkins served as state treasurer. Before that, she held seats in both the Kansas House and Senate.

Leopold would not say whether the new PAC would be active in the upcoming GOP primaries in Kansas, or whether it would be confined to general election races.

He said Jenkins has just started raising money for the PAC and has collected only a small amount of money, but a fundraiser is planned for April 6 in Topeka.