Jake LaTurner KS-02

Jake LaTurner 1
ix
WIBW August 5, 2020

Summary

Current Position: US Representative of KS 2nd District since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Treasurer of Kansas from 2017 – 2021; State Senator from 2013 – 2017
District:  the eastern part of the state, except for the core of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The district encompasses less than a quarter of the state. The state capital of Topeka, the cities of Emporia, Junction City and Leavenworth and most of Kansas City are located within this district. 
Upcoming Election:

Upon his appointment as Kansas State Treasurer by Governor Sam Brownback, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the country.

Featured Quote: 
The White House needs to stop abusing its power and working with companies like Facebook to censor Republicans. Americans deserve to know what the executive branch is doing with these companies.

Catholic Congressman Jake LaTurner on Keeping Christ at the Center of His Life | EWTN News Nightly

OnAir Post: Jake LaTurner KS-02

News

About

Source: Government page

Jake LaTurnerCongressman Jake LaTurner proudly represents Kansas’ 2nd District in the House of Representatives in his first term in office.

Congressman LaTurner is steadfast in his commitment to honoring his Contract with Kansas:

Co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that imposes term limits on Members of Congress.
Fighting to secure our borders and protect our country.
Balancing our budget, opposing tax increases, and bringing fiscal responsibility to Washington.
Fighting for work requirements for welfare recipients.
Standing, without apology for the sanctity of human life, protecting our sacred rights of religious liberty, safeguarding the right to keep and bear arms.
Protecting our incredible farmers and ranchers by fighting for the interests of Kansas agriculture.
Living and raising his family in the great state of Kansas.
Congressman Jake LaTurner is a 6th-generation Kansan who was born and raised in Galena. Jake’s conservative values are shaped by his faith in God, devotion to family, and love of country. Jake and his wife, Suzanne, have four children: Ava, Joe, Maggie, and Gus.

Jake is a proud graduate of Pittsburg State University. During his time in college, he worked as a District Representative for former Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins. Following graduation, Jake went on to work for Watco, one of America’s top short-line rail companies. In that position, he learned the importance of putting the customer first.

Prior to serving in Congress, LaTurner served the people of Southeast Kansas in the State Senate from 2013-2017. As a State Senator, Jake helped pass welfare-to-work reform in Kansas. He also worked alongside the Kansas Farm Bureau to protect Kansas families and farmers by authoring and passing a lid on property tax increases.

Following his time as a State Senator, Jake proudly served as the 40th Kansas State Treasurer and was the youngest statewide elected official in America. During his tenure, he returned more than $45 million in money and valuables to Kansas taxpayers.

Personal

Full Name: Jacob ‘Jake’ LaTurner

Gender: Male

Family: Wife: Suzanne; 4 Children: Ava, Joe, Maggie, Gus

Birth Date: 02/17/1988

Birth Place: Galena, KS

Home City: Topeka, KS

Religion: Catholic

Source: Vote Smart

Education

BA, Political Science and Government, Pittsburg State University

Political Experience

Representative, United States House of Representatives, Kansas, District 2, 2021-present

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Kansas, District 2, 2022

Appointed by Governor Sam Brownback, Treasurer, State of Kansas, 2017-2021

Candidate, Kansas State Treasurer, 2018

Senator, Kansas State Senate, District 13, 2013-2017

Candidate, Kansas State Senate, 2008

Professional Experience

Former Employee, Office of Congressperson Lynn Jenkins

Offices

Washington DC Office
1630 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515

Phone: (202) 225-6601
Pittsburg District Office
402 North Broadway Street
Suite B
Pittsburg, KS  66762

Phone: (620) 308-7450
Topeka District Office
3550 SW 5th St.
Suite B
Topeka, KS  66606

Phone: (785) 205-5253

Contact

Email: Government

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Election Results

To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.

Finances

Source: Open Secrets

Committees

U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner’s full committee assignments for the 117th Congress:

Congressman LaTurner is proud to serve on the Homeland Security Committee, Oversight and Reform Committee, and Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

On the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman LaTurner serves on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee and the Innovation and Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee.

On the Oversight and Reform Committee, Congressman LaTurner serves on the Government Operations Subcommittee.

On Science, Space, and Technology Committee , Congressman LaTurner serves on the Research and Technology Subcommittee.

Caucuses 

New Legislation

Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Representative LaTurner.

Issues

Source: Campaign page

More Information

Services

Source: Government page

District

Source: Wikipedia

Kansas’ 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas that covers most of the eastern part of the state, except for the core of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The district encompasses less than a quarter of the state. The state capital of Topeka, the cities of Emporia, Junction City and Leavenworth and most of Kansas City are located within this district. The district is currently represented by Republican Jake LaTurner.

Wikipedia

Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988)[1] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas’s 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 to 2021 and a state senator from the 13th district from 2013 to 2017.

Upon his appointment as Kansas State Treasurer by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the country. He was elected to the post in his own right in 2018, becoming the youngest elected statewide official in the United States.[2][3] LaTurner briefly campaigned for the United States Senate in the 2020 election, before instead opting to run for the United States House of Representatives in Kansas’s 2nd congressional district. He defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Watkins in the primary election, amid corruption allegations against Watkins, and won the general election against Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla. On April 18, 2024, LaTurner announced he would not be seeking reelection.[4]

Early life and education

LaTurner was born and raised in Galena, Kansas. He graduated from Galena High School and enrolled at Pittsburg State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in political science. LaTurner worked for former Kansas Treasurer and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins during his time in college in her Pittsburg district office.[5] According to Rep. Henry Cuellar, he is enrolled alongside him in the master’s in defense and strategic studies program at Naval War College (as of 2023).[6]

Kansas Senate

After losing the 2008 District 13 primary election to Republican senator Bob Marshall, he defeated Marshall in a 2012 rematch.[7] At age 24, he became the youngest member of the Kansas Senate. As a senator, LaTurner drafted legislation that would impose term limits on state legislators, reform the process for requesting public records, and combat potential nepotism. He faced opposition on these issues, including from Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives Ray Merrick, a Republican, and Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley.[8]

In February 2015, LaTurner was the lead sponsor of legislation allowing Kansas adults to carry firearms without a concealed carry permit.[9] In 2016, he authored a bill limiting property tax increases.[10]

State Treasurer of Kansas

LaTurner was appointed Kansas State Treasurer in April 2017 by Governor Sam Brownback. He replaced Ron Estes, who had been elected to the United States House of Representatives for Kansas’s 4th congressional district. Appointed at age 29, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the country. Defeating state senator Marci Francisco in 2018, he became the youngest statewide elected official in the country.[11]

As state treasurer, one of LaTurner’s primary responsibilities was to oversee unclaimed property, over which there is over $350 million worth in Kansas. He completed a 105 County Tour within 5 months during his first year in office, and returned over $10 million during the tour.[12] During LaTurner’s first year in office, he returned a record amount of unclaimed property to Kansans, over $25.5 million. “Every dollar we return to the people of Kansas is a dollar that goes back into their local communities,” LaTurner said. “Not only have we returned a record amount of money to Kansans, but we have made the process more user friendly and we have improved the service offered to Kansans.”[13]

LaTurner also administered the Kansas Learning Quest 529 Education Savings and ABLE Savings Programs, which assist Kansans in saving for their future.[14] During his first year in office, he implemented changes to the Kansas Learning Quest and ABLE Savings Programs. Under these changes, individuals living with a disability are able to roll over saved funds within a 529 Education Savings Account into their ABLE Account. Additionally, Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Account holders can utilize their funds for K-12 education tuition.[15]

In December 2020, Governor Laura Kelly announced that she would appoint Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers to succeed LaTurner as treasurer. Rogers took office on January 2, 2021.[16][17]

LaTurner v. United States

As Kansas Treasurer, LaTurner continued a legal case against the United States Department of the Treasury which requested the federal government return the proceeds from matured bonds to Kansas. Though a judge in a lower court sided with the state of Kansas, requiring the federal government to return approximately $150 million in savings bonds to the state of Kansas, the United States Court of Appeals overturned that decision and found in favor of the federal government. The bonds will still be returned to Kansans, but that process will be overseen at the federal, rather than state, level.[18][19]

2020 U.S. Senate campaign

On January 8, 2019, LaTurner announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2020 election, hoping to succeed four-term incumbent Pat Roberts. LaTurner’s announcement came roughly two weeks after Roberts announced his intention to retire in 2021. LaTurner announced his candidacy at age 30, the minimum age the United States Constitution requires a senator to be. As LaTurner’s next election as state treasurer would not be until 2022, the Senate campaign was considered relatively low-stakes.[20] Campaigning as a conservative, he supported the proposed Trump wall, an expansion of the physical barrier along the Mexico–United States border, argued for fiscal responsibility, and supported term limits for federally elected politicians.[20] Responding to questions at a meeting with five locals at the Garden City library, he said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “thinks that the government can fix all of our problems for us and doesn’t think that individuals have rights, naturally.” “I think that what I believe in, and it’s what our founders believed in, is that our rights come from God, not from the government… We need to continue to send people to Washington, D.C., that aren’t afraid to stand up with President Trump and defend conservative principles.”[21]

LaTurner stated in several interviews that he would step aside and drop out of the race if United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opted to run for the seat. In one interview, LaTurner stated that he would be the “first to support [Pompeo],” while in another he said Pompeo had “right up to the last minute. He can decide to run.”[22][23]

On September 9, 2019, LaTurner suspended his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, opting instead to run for the U.S. House in the 2020 election.[24]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

While LaTurner was running his Senate campaign, incumbent Republican representative for Kansas’s 2nd congressional district Steve Watkins was becoming embattled in several controversies, including that he inflated his business resume, was not present for important votes, voting fraud and allegations of sexual misconduct. Watkins and his staff had edited his Wikipedia page to remove content relating to the controversies. Many speculated Watkins was planning on resigning prior to the end of his term, which he adamantly denied.[25] Watkins was charged with interference with law enforcement, providing false information; voting without being qualified; unlawful advance voting; and failing to notify the DMV of change of address.[26] In response, former governor of Kansas Jeff Colyer publicly encouraged LaTurner to consider challenging Watkins for the seat.[27][28]

LaTurner announced he would end his Senate campaign in order to challenge Watkins on September 4, 2019. In an interview with Politico, LaTurner said, “At the end of the day, we don’t want to see another congressional seat be turned over to the Democrats in Kansas…Congressman Watkins, without question, puts this seat in jeopardy this cycle.” Watkins had been elected in 2018 by a margin of less than 1%. LaTurner was able to move $470,000 cash on hand from his Senate campaign to his House campaign, giving him a large advantage over Watkins who had only $260,000 at the time of LaTurner’s announcement. On August 4, 2020, LaTurner defeated Watkins in the Republican primary to run against Democratic Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla in the November 3 general election.[29]

Tenure

On January 6, 2021, during the United States Electoral College vote count for the 2020 presidential elections, LaTurner voted in favor of sustaining the objection raised against Arizona’s electoral votes after the session was earlier suspended when Trump supporters stormed and occupied the Capitol. Before the session concluded, he had to withdraw in quarantine because of a positive COVID-19 test, and thus was not able to vote on the objection to Pennsylvania’s electoral votes.[30] LaTurner voted against impeaching Trump in the following days. On April 18, 2024, LaTurner announced he would not be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives, citing a “toll” that Congressional service had taken on him. He also ruled out running for state offices in the 2026 midterm elections.[4]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

Primary results

Republican primary results[33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJake LaTurner 47,898 49.1
RepublicanSteve Watkins (incumbent)33,05333.9
RepublicanDennis Taylor16,51217.0
Total votes97,463 100.0

General election

Kansas’s 2nd congressional district, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJake LaTurner 185,464 57.6
DemocraticMichelle De La Isla136,65042.4
Total votes322,114 100.0
Kansas’s 2nd congressional district, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJake LaTurner (incumbent) 134,506 57.6
DemocraticPatrick Schmidt98,85242.4
Total votes233,358 100.0

References

  1. ^ “Jake LaTurner”. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  2. ^ “Kansas Governor Appoints Nation’s Youngest Statewide Official”. John Celock | Writer, Media Affairs Advisor, Author. April 18, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. ^ “Republican LaTurner elected Kansas treasurer”. KSN-TV. November 7, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  4. ^ a b ‘Congress has taken a toll’: Jake LaTurner will not seek reelection”. KSNT 27 News. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  5. ^ “Governor appoints Sen. Jake LaTurner as Kansas State Treasurer”. Parsons Sun. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Caldwell, Leigh Ann; Meyer, Theodoric (August 22, 2023). “Analysis | Chance of a government shutdown grows”. Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Ballotpedia Jacob LaTurner, Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ^ Marso, Andy (January 19, 2013). “Freshman senator intent on opening up government”. The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  9. ^ Carpenter, Tim. “Kansas Senate pushes ahead with ‘constitutional’ carry of concealed guns”. The Topeka Capital. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  10. ^ “Kansas to consider tightening limits on local property taxes”. LJWorld.com. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  11. ^ McLean, Jim (April 18, 2017). “LaTurner Appointed To Succeed Estes As Kansas State Treasurer”. KCUR 89.3. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  12. ^ “LaTurner Returned $10 Million to Kansans During 105 County Tour”. WamegoTimes.com. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Smith, Sherman. “Kansas State Treasurer’s office sets high mark with $25.5 million returned from unclaimed property”. The Topeka Capital. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  14. ^ Wiley, Eric. “State treasurer visits Salina”. Salina Journal. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Strader, Stacie (February 21, 2018). “KS Implements Changes to ABLE, 529 Accounts”. KOAM. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  16. ^ KWCH Staff (December 10, 2020). “Gov. Laura Kelly appoints Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers to Kansas State Treasurer”. kwch.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  17. ^ “Governor Laura Kelly Announces Intention to Appoint Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers To Become State Treasurer”. Governor of the State of Kansas. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  18. ^ Carpenter, Tim. “Kansas official hails federal ruling on $150 million in unclaimed bonds”. The Topeka Capital. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  19. ^ “LaTurner v United States, Decision on Appeal” (PDF).
  20. ^ a b Shorman, Jonathan (January 8, 2019). “Kansas Treasurer LaTurner enters race to replace retiring Roberts in U.S. Senate”. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  21. ^ Senate campaign tour brings LaTurner to Garden City, Garden City Telegram, Amber Friend, August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  22. ^ Wise, Lindsay (August 13, 2019). “Kansas GOP Weighs Senate Hopefuls While Pining for Pompeo”. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  23. ^ Hanna, John (August 16, 2019). “Republicans still waiting on Pompeo in Kansas Senate race”. KSHB Kansas City. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  24. ^ Arkin, James (September 4, 2019). “Kansas Republican drops Senate bid to primary Rep. Steve Watkins”. Politico. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Lowry, Bryan; Shorman, Jonathan (August 23, 2019). “Kansas Rep. Watkins knocks down resignation rumors; aide hits ‘whisper campaign’. The Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  26. ^ Homan, Timothy R. (July 17, 2020). “GOP lawmaker steps down from committees following voter fraud charges”. The Hill. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  27. ^ Hanna, Jake (September 4, 2019). “In Kansas GOP Fight, Jake LaTurner Leaves Senate Race to Challenge Incumbent Rep. Steve Watkins”. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  28. ^ “Jake LaTurner suspends Senate bid to challenge Watkins in GOP primary”. KSHB Kansas City. September 4, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  29. ^ LaTurner beats Watkins to take on De La Isla for congress, KSNT, Mark Feuerborn and Tiffany Littler, August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  30. ^ Lowry, Brian (January 8, 2020). “Kansas congressman tests positive for COVID-19 after House vote on Biden’s electors”. The Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  31. ^ “U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner Receives Committee Assignments | Representative Jake Laturner”. laturner.house.gov. January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  32. ^ “Membership”. Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  33. ^ “2020 Primary Election Official Vote Totals” (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
Kansas Senate
Preceded by

Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 13th district

2013–2017
Succeeded by

Political offices
Preceded by

Treasurer of Kansas
2017–2021
Succeeded by

Party political offices
Preceded by

Republican nominee for Treasurer of Kansas
2018
Succeeded by

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kansas’s 2nd congressional district

2021–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

United States representatives by seniority
316th
Succeeded by


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