Kansas Farm Bureau endorses Jake LaTurner over incumbent Steve Watkins in 2nd District

The Kansas Farm Bureau, an influential group in the state’s agricultural community, has endorsed Jake LaTurner over incumbent Steve Watkins in the Republican race for the state’s second congressional district.

The Farm Bureau president Richard Felts said Friday that LaTurner, currently state treasurer, “has an innate feel for the meaning and importance of agriculture and the family farm.”

LaTurner said agricultural producers “can be confident that I will be a tireless advocate for them in Washington, D.C., and always represent our conservative Kansas values.”

In his primary challenge, LaTurner has charged Watkins is placing the seat at risk of falling into Democratic hands. The freshman congressman has been dogged by a series of legal headaches since his election. His father, Steve Watkins, Sr., has said the Federal Election Commission is reviewing donations he funneled to his son’s 2018 campaign.

Watkins has said LaTurner is “costing conservatives real money” and sabotaging President Donald Trump’s agenda by waging a primary challenge.

Watkins campaign spokesman Bryan Piligra said in an email “we are not at all concerned by the Kansas Farm Bureau’s endorsement of our ego-driven opponent.” He said Watkins has the “utmost respect” for the Farm Bureau and the agricultural community.

The seat drew the attention of national Democrats after Watkins won by less than 1 percentage point in 2018. Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla is running for the Democratic nomination and raised $338,000 in the first quarter of 2020, compared to Watkins’ $123,000. LaTurner raised less than $43,000 during the same period, but has the most cash on hand with more than $571,000.

De La Isla this week was endorsed by EMILY’s List, a national group that seeks to elect Democratic women. The endorsement may assist De La Isla in fundraising.

This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 12:54 PM.