Kansas congressman trailed GOP rival in cash at 2020's start
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February 2, 2020
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Freshman U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins began this year with $190,000 less cash in his campaign fund than GOP primary rival and State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, finance records show.
Watkins raised more money than LaTurner during the last three months of 2019 because he received funds from a Republican fundraising committee and took in more than three times as much money from political action committees.
LaTurner dropped out of the race for an open U.S. Senate seat in September to challenge Watkins in the 2nd District of eastern Kansas, bolstering his new campaign with funds from his Senate bid. He began the year with nearly $591,000 in cash for his House campaign.
He raised about $102,000 in contributions during the last quarter of 2019, including $9,250 from political action committees.
Watkins began this year with almost $401,000 after raising nearly $128,000 during the last three months of 2019. More than $44,000 came from Problem Solvers Patriots, an Athens, Georgia, fundraising committee and another $35,100 came from political action committees.
Democratic candidate and Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla did not start her campaign until January.
Some Republicans fear Watkins could be vulnerable in the November election after winning his seat in 2018 by less than 1 percentage point.
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