TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Topeka minister Tobias Schlingensiepen has won the Kansas Democratic primary for the right to challenge GOP incumbent Lynn Jenkins for her 2nd District U.S. House seat.
Unofficial results Tuesday showed Schlingensiepen finished first ahead of Lawrence attorney Robert Eye and Ottawa farmer Scott Barnhart. None of the candidates had held elected office before, though Barnhart had previously sought state and county offices.
The district covers much of eastern Kansas, including the cities of Topeka, Lawrence and Pittsburg, as well as Fort Leavenworth.
Jenkins is seeking her third term in office, winning the seat in 2008 against Democratic incumbent Nancy Boyda. Jenkins is a former state legislator and state treasurer and was unopposed in the primary.
