Gov. Sam Brownback called a special election for April 11 to fill the south-central Kansas congressional seat previously held by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, with an already crowded field that includes Pompeo’s predecessor, the state treasurer and a former state treasurer. Brownback signed the necessary document Tuesday — called a writ of election — a day after the U.S. Senate confirmed Pompeo’s appointment by President Donald Trump. It will be the state’s first special congressional election since 1950. Democrats and Republicans in the 17-county district that includes Wichita must have special conventions by Feb. 18 to pick their nominees. For the election, Brownback picked the first Tuesday allowed under a 6-day-old state law aimed at giving military personnel an additional month to receive and return their ballots. “The people of the 4th District needed a representative as soon as possible,” Brownback told reporters. “You’re looking at a very active Congress.”
Republicans have held the seat since Todd Tiahrt unseated veteran Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman in 1994. Pompeo won the seat in 2010, when Tiahrt gave it up to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. Tiahrt lost a GOP primary race to Pompeo in 2014.
Tiahrt said Tuesday that he’s seeking the Republican nomination for the special election and believes his previous experience in Congress will be valuable in helping Trump with his agenda. “I’m the only one who can hit the ground running,” he said.
But many Republican saw State Treasurer Ron Estes as an early favorite, and Estes planned to formally launch his candidacy with a Wednesday news conference. Estes was elected treasurer in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.
Full Article: Kansas governor sets April 11 election to fill Pompeo’s seat | McClatchy DC.