An Afghanistan War veteran won the Republican nomination in Kansas' 2nd District, which GOP Rep. Lynn Jenkins is vacating.
Democrats are targeting the eastern Kansas district, as well as the Kansas City-area 3rd District, but the primary there had not been called at press time.
2nd District Army veteran Steve Watkins won the 2nd District Republican primary to take on former state House Minority Leader Paul Davis, the only Democrat on the ballot.
With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Watkins, a newcomer to politics, led a seven-way GOP field with 26 percent of the vote, according to The Associated Press. State Sen. Caryn Tyson was just behind with 23 percent.
President Donald Trump carried the 2nd District by 18 points in 2016, but Davis is considered a strong candidate for Democrats _ district voters backed him during his unsuccessful run for governor in 2014.
Davis was also one of the first Democratic candidates to announce that he would not back House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for leader.
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Leans Republican.
4th District GOP Rep. Ron Estes easily survived a primary challenge from a candidate who shared the same name as him, which caused some confusion among 4th District voters in the south central Kansas.
With all precincts reporting, Rep. Estes, who is bidding for a first full term, defeated Ron M. Estes 81 percent to 19 percent.
The congressman won a closer-than-expected special election last year in the 4th District, which Trump carried by 27 points in 2016. He defeated Democratic Army veteran James Thompson by 6 points, and will face him again in November after Thompson defeated consultant Laura Lombard 65 percent to 35 percent in the Democratic primary.
Inside Elections rates the race Solid Republican.
