Fresh from a stinging defeat in the 3rd Congressional District six weeks ago, Republicans may have a candidate in the wings to challenge Democrat Sharice Davids in 2020.
Word has been circulating in Republican circles that health care executive and former party chairwoman Amanda Adkins has been poking around at the possibility of running.
She acknowledged in an email that she has some interest in making a congressional bid but was circumspect.
“I can confirm after the election that I received many calls from various leaders asking me to run for public office,” Adkins said in an email.
“Right now I am very focused on my business career in healthcare. However, I can also confirm my commitment to explore the topic with my family.”
A spokeswoman for Davids declined to comment.
Experts point out that two years is a political eternity with so many unknowns: Davids hasn’t even cast a vote yet; the president’s future is cloudy; the district’s political climate may or may not become more friendly to the GOP after incumbent Kevin Yoder lost by 9 percentage points.
The most recent ratings by The Cook Political Report show the Kansas 3rd District leaning Democratic.
An executive at Cerner Corp., Adkins would give the Republicans a candidate who could help them overcome the gender gap, which was attributed to helping the Democrats take control of the House last month.
She’s also steeped in Kansas politics, chairing the state Republican Party at the height of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration.
During Adkins’ tenure as state party chairwoman, the GOP gained 16 seats in the Kansas Legislature during the 2010 midterm elections and Brownback swept into office.
She steered Brownback’s re-election campaign to the U.S. Senate 2004. Brownback, later as governor, appointed Adkins to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. She also worked as executive director for GOPAC.
Republicans see Adkins as a successful businesswoman who would know how to build a campaign and tap into donors. They believe she would be seen as more of a pragmatist than a conservative ideologue.
“She’s an absolutely fantastic candidate on a number of different levels,” said Kelly Arnold, chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.
“She knows the political arena. She knows the players. Her background at Cerner is a huge asset to her,” he said.
Yet others point out that Brownback and his policies could present problems for Adkins, especially since the former governor has been used to defeat conservative candidates — most notably Kris Kobach in the Kansas governor’s race.
“She’s carrying heavy baggage,” said Howard Bauleke, top aide to former Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore.
“In the current environment, any significant political history is a potential liability, particularly if it involved working for Brownback in Topeka.”
Bob Beatty, political science professor at Washburn University, said Republicans have to hope 2018 was more of a blip than any kind of long-term political shift.
If the 2020 presidential electorate looks anything like the 2018 midterms, Republicans will face an uphill fight.
“If it’s even mildly similar, then Davids wins re-election,” Beatty said “That was an electorate that really wasn’t happy with many Kansas Republican policies.”
If Brownback is still a potent poison for Republicans in 2020, then Adkins would face more problems, he said.
Bauleke anticipates Adkins will be among many Republicans who will kick the tires on a possible bid for Congress.
For instance, Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. of Olathe is widely speculated as a possible candidate.
“I expect this race will be of potential interest to every Republican state legislator, local official, or public-spirited millionaire in the district,” Bauleke said.
“Adkins may be the first to take a look; I don’t think she’ll be the last.”
