INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Republican running for Congress said he supports President Donald Trump's call for a border wall with Mexico because he wants to "keep our culture."

Steve Watkins, a political novice, said Wednesday during a candidate forum with Democrat Paul Davis in Independence that people who back the wall aren't "mean spirited or the racist bigots some leftists would have you believe," The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

"I'm proud of our country," said Watkins, who is vying for the seat left open in eastern Kansas' 2nd Congressional District by the retirement of GOP Re...