Fresh off his successful reelection, Ron Ryckman Jr. officially launched a bid for an unprecedented third term as Kansas House speaker.
In a letter sent to House Republicans on Wednesday, Ryckman sought support from members of the GOP caucus, which is expected to expand on its supermajority when the votes are all tallied. The supermajority is expected to be at least 86 and maybe as big as 89.
“Voters want accountability, renewed stability and a government that listens to them,” Ryckman wrote in his letter.
“I know you heard them this summer and fall as you campaigned,” he wrote. “You listened to their frustration and fear, and like me, you pledged that we would forge a path forward for our state.
“Now that the races have been won and the campaigning is over, the time has come to do what we pledged,” he wrote.
“I am running to be your speaker because I know – through our shared experience and continuity – we can deliver the stability our constituents are asking for.”
Ryckman’s decision to run for a third term as speaker had been anticipated since he filed for reelection last December.
Ryckman filed for reelection along with House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch. The trio have worked together as a team, often issuing joint statements to the media.
Also Wednesday, Hawkins announced his plans to run again for House majority leader. Finch sent out a letter announcing his intention to run for speaker pro tem.
“Republicans faced unprecedented headwinds this year, but due to your hard work you were victorious and we grew our supermajority,” Hawkins said in his letter.
“Unfortunately, the campaign was the easy part. Our state is hurting and we will face numerous challenges over the next two years,” Hawkins wrote.
Hawkins pointed to a number of issues that will be facing the Legislature the next two years, including redistricting, a budget deficit and the passage of a constitutional amendment on abortion.
“The people of Kansas are relying on each of us to pull together and overcome these challenges,” Hawkins wrote
“I am confident that we have the right group of legislators in our caucus to do exactly that.”
In his letter, Finch emphasized the importance of listening to Republican House members.
“I have worked together with our leadership team, members of our caucus and other Republican statewide officials to help us navigate some rough waters this year,” Finch wrote, alluding to the pandemic.
“But through it all we have kept the focus on listening to our members, serving their needs, and working to help them be effective and successful leaders at home.”
Ryckman, 48, is now entering his fifth term after he was elected to represent House District 78 in 2012.
The idea of a third term as speaker has not been universally embraced.
Last year, former House Speaker Ray Merrick questioned the wisdom of breaking tradition for a third term as speaker.
Merrick said he believed the move would allow the speaker to consolidate his power base and shut out new lawmakers.
