Allen Countians were aligned with voters statewide in Tuesday’s primary, echoing results for each of the contested Republican and Democratic races.
Congressman Jerry Moran was chosen over fellow House member Todd Tiahrt to nab the Republican nomination to replace outgoing Sen. Sam Brownback, who is giving up his seat in an effort to become the state’s next governor.
Moran received 52 percent, or 896, of the 1,737 votes cast in Allen County. Statewide, Moran received 50 percent of the vote, while Tiahrt had 36 percent in Allen County and 45 percent statewide.
Moran will face Lisa Johnston, who earned the Democratic nomination in a field of five. Johnston received 39 percent of 322 votes cast in Allen County. She won with 31 percent of the vote statewide.
Brownback easily topped challenger John Heffington in both county and statewide ballots in the governor’s primary.
The Democrats have only one gubernatorial candidate, Tom Holland, and thus did not require a primary vote before November’s general election.
Kris Kobach received 51 percent of the 1,645 Allen County votes cast to earn the GOP nod in the Kansas secretary of state’s race — an identical percentage he received statewide — easily outdistancing fellow Republicans Libby Ensley and J.R. Claeys.
Kobach will face incumbent Chris Biggs, who held off a challenge by State Sen. Chris Steineger.
State Sen. Derek Schmidt, seeking to become the state’s next attorney general, overwhelmingly dispatched Ralph De Zago to earn the GOP nod. Schmidt earned 76 percent of the votes statewide, and 90 percent of the votes cast in Allen County.
Schmidt will face incumbent Steven Six in the November general election. Six, a Democrat, did not face an opponent in the primary.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins defeated challenger Dennis Pyle for her seat in the U.S. House, earning 63 percent of the votes in Allen County and 57 percent statewide.
She will face Cheryl Hudspeth, who earned 64 percent of the county vote in a three-way race on the Democratic side, 44 percent statewide.
Republican Sandy Praeger had little trouble defeating David Powell to remain as the state’s insurance commissioner, earning 61 percent of the Allen County vote and 63 percent statewide. She is virtually assured of re-election in November because no other party offered up a candidate.
County mirrors statewide vote
