A Republican has joined the race for the state Senate seat once held by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Kristen O’Shea has filed to run in Senate District 18, now held by Democrat Vic Miller, who is running for the House after serving out Kelly’s term in the Senate.
So far, Topeka pastor Tobias Schlingensiepen, a former congressional candidate, is the only other person to file for the Senate seat. He is a Democrat.
“My priority will be to restart our economy and ensure economic opportunity and success for Kansans,” O’Shea said in a statement.
“I will be a fierce defender of our freedoms and our opportunities,” she said.
O’Shea served as executive director of the quality of life division for the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Greater Topeka.
She also was coordinator of membership for LeadingAge Kansas, an association for nonprofit aging services.
O’Shea’s LinkedIn page describes her as an organizational development consultant, a trainer and a coach.
She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and was the vice president of Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.
She studied family science and human development at Kansas State and has a master’s in education from the University of Missouri.
The district, which covers parts of Shawnee, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties, has had some mixed political leanings over the years.
Kelly carried the district in 2018 over Kris Kobach in the governor’s race, and it went for Democrat Paul Davis in the 2nd District congressional race.
However, the district went Republican for candidates for insurance commissioner, treasurer and attorney general, as well.
The district went for President Donald Trump in 2016 and for Davis in the 2014 governor’s race. It went for Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race.
Kelly won her Senate race in 2016 with about 52% of the vote. She won her 2012 reelection campaign with 52% of the vote against former Shawnee County Sheriff Dick Barta.
