(Updated to include political leanings of district)
Democratic state Rep. Dave Benson on Friday stepped down from his seat in the Kansas House.
Benson said his resignation from the 48th District seat was effectively immediately.
“It has been an honor to represent my district and community, and I will leave with fond memories of my time in the Kansas statehouse,” Benson said in his resignation letter.
“I am assured that whoever takes my place in the House will represent the 48th District with thoughtfulness, integrity, and transparency,” he said.
The resignation comes about a week before the Legislature is set to meet for one last day in a session that is expected to see a flurry of last-minute legislation.
Among other things, the Legislature is expected to take up a bill giving lawmakers more oversight of the governor’s emergency powers and limits on legal liability for businesses and health care providers.
Benson, the former Blue Valley School District superintendent, won the House seat in 2018 when he defeated Republican incumbent Abraham Rafie by 82 votes. He could not be reached for comment Friday.
He was facing opposition from Republican Overland Park accountant Terry Frederick, a former Prairie Village City Council member who lost his seat on the Water District No. 1 board last year.
It will be up to Democratic precinct committee members to fill the vacancy for the rest of the term, which ends in December.
Democrats are working on a replacement although the new lawmaker cannot be sworn in until after next week’s last legislative meeting.
State law requires a seven-day waiting period from the time of the resignation to when precinct committee members can choose a successor.
House District 48 covers a swath of Overland Park south of the Interstate 435 loop.
The district has leaned Republican over the years, going for President Donald Trump with 49% of the vote in 2016, former Gov. Sam Brownback with 53% in 2014 and presidential candidate Mitt Romney with about 63% of the vote in 2012
