|
|
|
Pratt, Kan. —
Early results for the First Congressional District race Tuesday showed a race that could have been easily won by three different candidates. But once Senator Tim Huelskamp took the lead, he never looked the back.
The farmer from Fowler, as many have dubbed him, ran on a platform of conservative values and used a conservative voting record in the state Senate to illustrate his ability to vote against tax increases, spending and government growth.
“This was a hard-fought race, and I had some very worthy opponents,” Huelskamp said following the announcement on his win Tuesday. “My focus going forward is going to be advancing the conservative principles that I’ve campaigned on.”
Huelskamp was declared the winner shortly before midnight Tuesday, ending what had become a predominately two-way race between Huelskamp and fellow state Senator Jim Barnett. Both candidates focused on one another in their advertising attacks and in the final month of the race, both released several radio and television advertisements that attempt to prove each was more conservative than the other. Mann, the race’s other top contender, tried his best to stay removed from the negativity and offered his congratulations to Huelskamp in a speech Tuesday at his watch party in Salina.
“I want to congratulate Huelskamp on his Republican nomination for the 1st district seat,” Mann said. “We gave it our absolute best and left it all on the field.”
Huelskamp’s message of conservative values helped to garner national attention and national endorsements. The Fowler Republican gained the support of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Kansans for Life and the Gun Owners of American Political Victory Fund, which many believe to be an important endorsement for a candidate in the 1st District. His advertisements filled airtime and helped distribute his message of conservative politics.
SurveyUSA, which conducted polls throughout the campaign, showed Huelskamp behind Barnett in February and again in mid-June. It was at that point that Mann made his way into the top three. But the final poll, conducted in late July, showed Huelskamp tied with Barnett and Mann.
All six Republican candidates spent months on the road, covering the 69-county district, many claiming they toured the district two and three times. Meet and greets and candidate forums became popular and voters searched for ways to meet the candidate and learn more about their platform and principals.
According to the Kansas Secretary of State’s state-wide election results, Huelskamp was declared the winner in several major counties in the 1st district including Reno, Finney, Ford and Pratt. His presence in the western part of the district became obvious with Mann taking only a dozen counties and Boldra accounting for Graham and Ellis counties. Barnett, who showed a slight lead among advanced voters, saw his influence limited to the eastern part of the district. Wasinger and Cobb did not carry any counties.
The Kansas Republican Party has already agreed to support and endorse the winner of the primary election.
Huelskamp will now face Democrat candidate Marck Cobb of Salina in the Nov. 2 general election.
“I look forward to a spirited debate on the issues with Mr. Jilka,” Huelskamp said. “The voters will have a clear choice in November between a candidate who supports bigger government and Obamacare and one who will lead the fight against the liberal policies of Pelosi and Obama. I look forward to that debate.”
Early results for the First Congressional District race Tuesday showed a race that could have been easily won by three different candidates. But once Senator Tim Huelskamp took the lead, he never looked the back.
The farmer from Fowler, as many have dubbed him, ran on a platform of conservative values and used a conservative voting record in the state Senate to illustrate his ability to vote against tax increases, spending and government growth.
“This was a hard-fought race, and I had some very worthy opponents,” Huelskamp said following the announcement on his win Tuesday. “My focus going forward is going to be advancing the conservative principles that I’ve campaigned on.”
Huelskamp was declared the winner shortly before midnight Tuesday, ending what had become a predominately two-way race between Huelskamp and fellow state Senator Jim Barnett. Both candidates focused on one another in their advertising attacks and in the final month of the race, both released several radio and television advertisements that attempt to prove each was more conservative than the other. Mann, the race’s other top contender, tried his best to stay removed from the negativity and offered his congratulations to Huelskamp in a speech Tuesday at his watch party in Salina.
“I want to congratulate Huelskamp on his Republican nomination for the 1st district seat,” Mann said. “We gave it our absolute best and left it all on the field.”
Huelskamp’s message of conservative values helped to garner national attention and national endorsements. The Fowler Republican gained the support of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Kansans for Life and the Gun Owners of American Political Victory Fund, which many believe to be an important endorsement for a candidate in the 1st District. His advertisements filled airtime and helped distribute his message of conservative politics.
SurveyUSA, which conducted polls throughout the campaign, showed Huelskamp behind Barnett in February and again in mid-June. It was at that point that Mann made his way into the top three. But the final poll, conducted in late July, showed Huelskamp tied with Barnett and Mann.
All six Republican candidates spent months on the road, covering the 69-county district, many claiming they toured the district two and three times. Meet and greets and candidate forums became popular and voters searched for ways to meet the candidate and learn more about their platform and principals.
According to the Kansas Secretary of State’s state-wide election results, Huelskamp was declared the winner in several major counties in the 1st district including Reno, Finney, Ford and Pratt. His presence in the western part of the district became obvious with Mann taking only a dozen counties and Boldra accounting for Graham and Ellis counties. Barnett, who showed a slight lead among advanced voters, saw his influence limited to the eastern part of the district. Wasinger and Cobb did not carry any counties.
The Kansas Republican Party has already agreed to support and endorse the winner of the primary election.
Huelskamp will now face Democrat candidate Marck Cobb of Salina in the Nov. 2 general election.
“I look forward to a spirited debate on the issues with Mr. Jilka,” Huelskamp said. “The voters will have a clear choice in November between a candidate who supports bigger government and Obamacare and one who will lead the fight against the liberal policies of Pelosi and Obama. I look forward to that debate.”
