Kansas Republican Representative LaTurner Decides not to Run for Reelection

Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., announced on Thursday that he will not be seeking reelection for a third term, adding more pressure on Republicans to maintain their fragile majority in the House.

LaTurner, aged 36, who represents Kansas’ second congressional district, shared in a statement posted on X that the demands of serving in and running for Congress have taken a toll on him. He expressed his desire to explore other opportunities and spend more time with his family.

The House Republican majority currently stands at 218-213 due to the early departures of lawmakers like former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, Ken Buck of Colorado, Bill Johnson of Ohio, and Chris Stewart of Utah, along with the expulsion of George Santos of New York. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, was scheduled to leave on Friday but may extend his stay to vote on various foreign aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region.

Unlike those who have left, LaTurner, a member of the Appropriations and Oversight committees, has committed to completing his term. According to Ballotpedia, thirteen other House Republicans, as well as twelve Democrats, have also announced that they will not seek reelection in November, which has put the control of the House in a precarious position.

Regarding his decision, LaTurner said in the statement, “The people of Kansas who elected me to serve in the United States House of Representatives have given me the professional honor of my life, but it is time to pursue other opportunities and have the benefit of spending more time with my family.” He mentioned that the demanding schedule of serving in Congress has impacted his ability to be fully present for his four young children.

Following LaTurner’s exit, there are no Republican candidates for the upcoming Aug. 6 primary. According to The Kansas City Star, potential candidates include Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson and Kansas House Majority Leader Chris Croft.

LaTurner’s district, which covers a significant portion of eastern Kansas, has consistently voted for Republican presidential nominees since 2000. In both 2020 and 2022, LaTurner secured victory with 55.2% and 57.6% of the vote, respectively.

Reacting to the news, Mike Kuckelman, a former chair of the Kansas Republican Party, expressed surprise as most people believed LaTurner would seek reelection.

“So, I imagine there are people scrambling now to kick the tires,” Kuckelman said. “But what will be interesting to see is how many of those actually jump in the race.”

LaTurner highlighted the current dysfunction in Congress as distressing but remained optimistic about the country’s future, emphasizing the endurance and resilience of the American republic.