KS-02: Topeka Mayor De La Isla launches bid for Congress, filling Democratic void in race.

[RandySF]

Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla is entering the Democratic race for Kansas’s 2nd Congressional District, filling a vacuum created when the party’s only candidate dropped out in October.

The first-term mayor’s entry ends months of uncertainty among Democrats as critical fundraising and campaigning time slipped away. Her decision ensures the party now has a candidate who can begin building an operation as Rep. Steve Watkins and Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner contend for the Republican nomination.

De La Isla said in an interview that health care and everyday issues will be central to her campaign. She promised she would fight to preserve the flow of federal dollars to Kansas if state lawmakers expand Medicaid this year.

De La Isla, 43, was elected Topeka’s first Latina mayor in 2017 by 501 votes – a narrow victory in a race with more than 16,000 ballots cast. She was first elected to the Topeka City Council in 2013.

She has lived in Kansas since 2000 and holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from Wichita State University. De La Isla has also worked as the director of Topeka Habitat for Humanity and as a diversity and inclusion representative at Westar Energy (now Evergy).



https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article238968573.html#storylink=cpy

[TlalocW]

1. Oh, please let Kobach be beaten by a Latina

Please please please please please!

TlalocW

[MuseRider]

2. Kobach is running for

the seat in the Senate that will be up for grabs as Roberts retires.

It would be nice to see Watkins defeated by anyone, preferably a Dem and bonus if the Dem is female but at this point anyone would be better.

Once Roberts is gone we will at least have a Senator who lives in this state, I don't remember how long it has been since Roberts has. Watkins is the same way, he uses a UPS store for his Kansas address. We suspect he still lives in Alaska, we would be happy if he did and went back there ASAP. Both are huge pieces of crap who actually do nothing.

When Watkins disrupted the hearings in the secure basement with Gaetz it was the first indication he had even been able to locate the building he supposedly works in. Looks like Republicans in this state are either horrible people who work for anyone but the state, or they are not even residents here and just use the state for a job they have no intention of actually doing.

EDIT to add that he is running against a woman, the Dem candidate was recently a Republican who switched. That is our only candidate right now for that seat. She is not Latina but she is a she and that would hurt him too. Sorry. I agree that it would be a lovely thing to see a Latina beat that creep.

[TlalocW]

3. Oh, poop. Didn't read closely enough

It was late. I was tired. Those are my excuses, and I'm sticking to them.

TlalocW

[MuseRider]

5. *snort* Been there too many times myself.

I corrected someone who was talking about Pompeo and his time as our Congressman and I corrected them saying he was a Senator etc. etc. etc. I was so wrong and so embarrassed both because I was so stupid and sure and I hate to admit my state would elect that creep. Now he has been called Kansan of the year The best part is the letters to the editors about that cute little decision.

Your excuses are good for me.

[gratuitous]

4. Good

Contest every race. Even Kansas has soured on the straight Republican snake oil. I think there are going to be several surprising pick-ups in 2020, but Democrats need a candidate in every race.