The race to replace Senate President Susan Wagle in the Legislature heated up Sunday when the son of a former lawmaker announced he’s running for the state Senate.
Devon Rutledge, the son of former state Rep. Joel Rutledge, announced his bid for Senate District 30.
The district is now represented by Wagle, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Republican state Rep. Renee Erickson announced her candidacy for the seat in July.
Rutledge noted that the district went for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly last year while Wagle’s agenda has gone more conservative.
He promised to support Medicaid expansion, cutting the sales tax on food and protecting funding for education.
“Our district voted for Gov. Laura Kelly over Kris Kobach by more than 14%, but our state senator has been busy doing Kobach’s extremist bidding in the Kansas Legislature ever since,” Rutledge said in a statement.
“Rep. Erickson would be even worse,” he said. “It’s time the 30th District had the voice of reason it deserves in Topeka, and I’m running to be that voice.”
Erickson issued a brief response.
“I look forward to discussing the issues and the values of District 30,” she said in an emailed statement.
Rutledge runs an Allstate Insurance agency in the Wichita area while also co-owning Beer Brothers Wine and Spirits with his brother.
While Senate District 30 has leaned Republican over the years, it did go for Kelly over Kobach in last year’s governor’s race.
Democratic secretary of state candidate Brian McClendon also carried the district.
Kelly captured 53% of the votes cast in the district last year compared to 39% for Kobach. McClendon won the district with 50.2% of the vote against Republican Scott Schwab.
However, the district went Republican in the races for Congress, treasurer, attorney general and insurance commissioner.
The district went for President Donald Trump in 2016 (50.2%), former Gov. Sam Brownback in 2014 (48.5%) and Mitt Romney in 2012 (57.3%).
