The Star Editorial Board’s endorsement in Kansas’ 2nd District Democratic primary | Opinion

Democrats voting in the Kansas 2nd Congressional District primary have a clear choice on their hands: familiar or fresh?

The familiar candidate is Nancy Boyda, who held the seat for a single two-year term nearly two decades ago after beating the well-known incumbent, Jim Ryun, a former track star known for his social conservatism. She remains the only Democrat to win the 2nd District in the last 30 years, and now is attempting a return.

“I believe that a strong, independent moderate Democrat can best represent this district,” she said. “It’s how I won in 2006. It’s how I’ll win in 2024.”

The fresh candidate, Matt Kleinmann, is probably also familiar to Kansans — though not, perhaps, for his political stances: He was a member of the 2008 KU basketball national championship team. He has spent the last decade-plus working with community development efforts in the Kansas City area before emerging this year to run for the seat now held by outgoing U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner.

“I am running for the future of our country,” Kleinmann said, “because it is a future I will be a part of for decades to come.”

We believe Kleinmann is the best choice for 2nd District Democrats.

It’s not just Kleinmann’s youth and freshness that earn our recommendation — it’s a sharply drawn agenda that prioritizes the bread-and-butter needs of his district.

Kleinmann has promised to introduce legislation that helps first-time homebuyers more easily make down payments and incentivize landlords to offer more affordable housing. He supports an increase to the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t been raised since 2009. And he vows to “restore the U.S. Postal Service to its former glory” by taking on policies that — he rightly notes — lately delivered “slower mail, higher prices, and fewer hours at rural post offices.”

Boyda — last seen briefly entering and then quickly exiting the 2020 race to replace longtime Sen. Pat Roberts — seems increasingly out of step with her fellow Democrats. In June, she issued a statement declaring that “in contrast to the platform of the Kansas Democratic Party, I do not support trans girls competing in girl’s sports.” That earned a quick rebuke from the party’s LGBTQ+ caucus, which quickly endorsed Kleinmann.

She portrays this as a selling point. “I am not your typical Democrat,” Boyda said. “I have always maintained, and will always maintain, a strong independent and moderate streak. I am not afraid to break with my party when necessary.”

That might indeed be appealing to general election voters in the conservative 2nd District. It’s probably a more difficult case to make to Democratic primary voters, who are usually the party’s most dedicated partisans.

“I am greatly concerned for the health of our democracy, and not just because of Jan. 6 and Project 2025, but because I worry that the next generation of young people, whom I have worked with, trained, and worked to create educational opportunities with, won’t see an America like the one I grew up in,” Kleinmann said in response to our questions. “They will see one where opportunities have disappeared, home ownership is nearly impossible, and their elected leaders no longer represent the people.”

The goal, he said, is to “represent all people so we can live better, healthier lives.”

Whoever wins the primary will have an uphill fight in the general election.

As The Star has reported, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that directs national-level resources to local congressional campaigns has not made Kansas’ 2nd District a priority — meaning neither Boyda nor Kleinmann are likely to receive much in the way of cash and logistical support that can boost other campaigns.

“I don’t see that either of these people have either the resources or the background they would need to pull that off,” said one GOP observer. He might not be wrong.

That means the Democratic nominee will have to carry the message largely on their own this fall. Boyda’s name recognition might be more familiar to voters in her district. But we believe Kleinmann is better-positioned to make the case for a younger generation of Kansas Democrats.

This story was originally published July 25, 2024 at 5:08 AM.