Kansas’ federal and state candidates hoping to represent the Sunflower State recently filed their final campaign finance reports, revealing advantages for most Republican nominees seeking election in Franklin County. 

Candidates were required to submit campaign receipts and disbursements before the Nov. 6 general election with either the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission or the Federal Election Commission to share with voters information about their supporters and campaign spending. 

Kansas’ federal and state candidates hoping to represent the Sunflower State recently filed their final campaign finance reports, revealing advantages for most Republican nominees seeking election in Franklin County. 

Candidates were required to submit campaign receipts and disbursements before the Nov. 6 general election with either the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission or the Federal Election Commission to share with voters information about their supporters and campaign spending. 

U.S. House

2nd District

In arguably Kansas’ most contested U.S. House race, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, has maintained a massive financial lead in her campaign to defeat Tobias Schlingensiepen, D-Topeka, who has been highly critical of Jenkins’ willingness to accept certain contributions. 

Schlingensiepen, a pastor in Topeka, criticized incumbent Jenkins for using funds that he said will indebt her to out-of-district companies, banks and special interest groups instead of her constituents in Kansas. 

“We’re proud of our broad base of support and that we’ve raised as much money as we have in four months of campaigning and without sitting on a single committee in Congress,” Schlingensiepen said. “We’ve received contributions from individual Kansans in every corner of the District. Unlike my opponent who has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from big banks, insurance companies and Washington PACs, we haven’t taken a single cent from Washington PACs and wealthy corporations.”

Throughout his campaign, Schlingensiepen has amassed slightly more than $190,000 in total contributions, compared to Jenkins’ more than $1.81 million, according to the Federal Election Commission. Nearly 54 percent — or about $974,000 — of Jenkins’ contributions have derived from political action committees, most of which are outside of Kansas. Slightly more than 96 percent of Schlingensiepen’s funds were provided by individual contributors

Jenkins reported Oct. 17 having $1.24 million cash on hand for her campaign, while Schlingensiepen indicated having about $56,000. 

In response to criticism of her campaign fundraising and donors, Jenkins’ camp said her finances are consistent with her previous reports, which demonstrates support from across the U.S. 

“Congresswoman Jenkins has always felt that if you take care of your business, politics will take care of itself,” Bill Roe, Jenkins’ campaign manager, said according to media reports. “This recent financial report is like its predecessors. It continues to show consistent and broad support of the work Congresswoman Jenkins is doing on the behalf of eastern Kansans in Washington.”

Kansas Senate District 12

Similar to Franklin County’s U.S. House race, Kansas Senate District 12’s Republican candidate is far surpassing the campaign funds of its Democratic nominee. 

Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, reported Monday more than $40,000 in total contributions in her bid to defeat Denise Cassells, D-Mound City, who has secured about $8,000 since launching her campaign, according to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office. 

At the close of the pre-general election filing deadline Monday, Cassells showed $192 in cash-on-hand, compared to Tyson’s more than $19,000. 

Senate District 12 includes Franklin, Allen, Anderson, Linn and parts of Bourbon and Miami counties.

Kansas House District 5

In the race between an 18-year incumbent and a political newcomer, the Democratic candidate has maintained a campaign funding advantage over his Republican adversary. 

Bill Feuerborn, D-Garnett, reported more than $52,000 in total contributions at his disposal in the contest against Kevin Jones, R-Wellsville, who reported having nearly $12,000, according to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office.  

At the close of the pre-general election filing deadline, Jones indicated about $1,700 in cash-on-hand, compared to Feuerborn’s more than $32,000. 

Kansas House District 5 includes eastern Franklin, most of Anderson and western parts of Linn and Miami counties.

Kansas House District 59

  Reports on Franklin and Osage counties’ race between two Ottawans have shown significantly more funding for and spending by Kansas House District 59’s GOP candidate compared its Democratic nominee. 

Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa, reported Monday having nearly $7,300 in total contributions, while Caleb Correll, D-Ottawa, indicated about $2,680 in total campaign funds, according to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office. Of that total, Finch has spent more than $5,700, bring his cash-on-hand total to about $1,550. Correll only has spent slightly more than 31 percent — $844.17 — of his total available funds, resulting in about $1,836 cash-on-hand at the end of the Oct. 25 reporting period.

Kansas House District 59 includes the western portion of Franklin and a few precincts in northeastern Osage counties.