The Republican Party demonstrated a renewed interest in the Third District congressional race today after Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat, announced he would not be seeking re-election. Within hours of Moore’s announcement, the list of possible and probable Republican candidates more than doubled in size.

Nick Jordan, a former state senator, announced he would be entering the Third District race. Jordan challenged Moore in the 2008 election, but lost after gaining 40 percent of the vote.

Jordan said he had been considering entering the race, and that Moore’s exit cemented his decision.

“We have an awful lot of donors ready to support us, so I think we can raise the funds,” Jordan told Kansas Liberty.

Jordan said he would be focusing on many of the same issues he promoted in the 2008 race such as limited government and personal responsibility, with an extra emphasis on the economy.

Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, announced this morning he had formed an exploratory committee to assess the Third District race. Many have speculated that Yoder, the chair of the Appropriations Committee, would enter the race at some point.

Moore issued a statement this afternoon on his retirement, calling his time as a congressman “exciting,” “tiresome” and “frustrating.” The statement does not mention a specific reason for his retirement.

“I have decided not to seek re-election in 2010,” Moore said in the statement. “It is time for a new generation of leadership to step forward.”

Kansas Republican Party Third District Chair Keith Esau speculated that Moore was leaving office because he realized that his constituents had grown weary of his lack of accountability.

“Voters in the Third Congressional District have been making it clear that they were done with Dennis Moore misleading them, misrepresenting them in Congress and just plain being missing in action when they wanted to talk with their congressman,” Esau said. “I’m glad he got the message and we look forward to electing a Republican to this seat in 2010.”

Sen. Karin Brownlee, R-Olathe, Sen. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park, and Charlotte O’Hara, a Johnson County Republican, are also considering entering the race.

Brownlee, a conservative Republican and 12-year veteran of the Kansas Legislature, said she would likely make her final decision within weeks. Brownlee said the Republican Party needs to focus on supporting a single, worthy candidate for the position to help guarantee that a Democrat is not elected into the position.

“It would be wise for Republicans to try and coalesce around one strong candidate,” Brownlee told Kansas Liberty. “We have to give it our best.”

 Sen. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park, said he was also seriously considering joining the race.  Colyer sought the Republican nomination for the same race in 2002, but narrowly lost to Adam Taff.

 "I am looking at it seriously and hope to make a decision very soon," Colyer told Kansas Liberty.

 O’Hara said she was weighing her options and that she plans to make up her mind within the next two weeks. O'Hara unsuccessfully ran for Johnson County commissioner on two separate occasions.

“I want to step back and let the dust settle a bit,” O’Hara told Kansas Liberty. “The Republicans have to come out with a good solid candidate that can win in that general election and that is the most important thing.”

Some have speculated that Overland Park attorney Greg Musil would also be entering the race. Musil, a Republican, did not return Kansas Liberty’s request for comment has not yet made any public announcement on his intentions.

 Prior to today’s rush of Third District interest, there were just three Republicans who were actively campaigning for the race. Patricia Lightner, Daniel Gilyeat and John Rysavy started publicly campaigning several months ago.

According to the Federal Elections Commission, Lightner has fundraising receipts totaling $45,010 with a debt of $18,500. Rysavy has raised $18,561 with a debt of $8,500 and Gilyeat has raised $419.

Thomas Scherer, a Republican, has receipts totaling $80,000 though the report indicates the entire amount came from Scherer himself and not through donations.

Moore had raised $45,010 in donations, with an $18,500 debt.

Lightner said she was “shocked” that Moore exited the race.

“I was running to beat Dennis Moore and I was confident I could beat Dennis Moore,” Lightner told Kansas Liberty. Lightner said she was not so sure that the new additions to the race could say the same thing.

“They obviously didn’t think they could beat Dennis Moore,” Lightner said. “I can differentiate myself from them because of when they are getting into the race.”

Rysavy and Gilyeat did not return Kansas Liberty’s request for comment.

Lisa Burgess, spokesperson for the Kansas Republican Party, said the notable increase of interest demonstrates how out of touch Moore was with his constituents.

“I think that the excitement around this race is proof that Third District voters didn’t think Dennis Moore represented their values anymore,” Burgess told Kansas Liberty. “As a party, we are very focused on growing the Kansas economy. All of the Republican candidates — in the Third District and across the state — are very focused on bringing jobs back to Kansas.”

Amanda Adkins, chair of the Kansas GOP, also issued a statement today regarding Moore’s decision not to run for re-election, pointing out how closely aligned he had become with the Obama administration.

"President Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s agenda is dangerous for the country, and giving Democrats in Washington unchecked powers is unsafe for America,” Adkins said. “Voters in the Third District are very aware that Dennis Moore’s record of voting with Speaker Pelosi and Democratic leadership 98 percent of the time is out of touch with their values.”

Resources:

Patricia Lightner for Congress

Lightner statement on Moore’s retirement

John Rysavy for Congress

Daniel Gilyeat for Congress

Thomas Scherer for Congress

Kansas Republican Party

U.S. Rep Dennis Moore official web page

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