Republican state Rep. Troy Waymaster is withdrawing from the 1st District Congressional race to run for reelection to the Kansas House.
In an interview late Friday, Waymaster said he had filed to run for a fifth term to represent the 109th District in the Kansas House.
Waymaster’s departure leaves the Republican field for the 1st District race to former Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann and Finney County Commissioner Bill Clifford.
Waymaster said the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult to campaign, especially with the economy closed down and stay-at-home orders in place across the state.
“It was an interesting time as far as campaigning or the ability to campaign,” Waymaster said. “You just weren’t able to do the normal course of campaigning.”
As chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Waymaster said he has already thrown himself into the state budget, which is facing a $1.3 billion revenue shortfall for this fiscal year and next.
“I was spending more of my time in regards to the finances for the state of Kansas in the month of April as opposed to the congressional race,” Waymaster said.
“I just feel like I am going to be doing that during the summer, fall and winter as well,” he said.
“I just won’t be able to devote the time needed for a congressional race when I actually have an elected position where I need to focus on the budget for the state of Kansas.”
Waymaster trailed Mann and Clifford with money in the bank as the heart of the campaign season fast approached. The primary is Aug. 4.
Waymaster reported having about $210,000 in the bank for his congressional campaign at the end of the first quarter, including $111,000 in loans.
Mann, who ran for the 1st District Congressional seat in 2010, had about $493,000 on hand at the end of the first quarter. He loaned himself just $200.
Clifford, an eye doctor, had about $566,000 on hand as of March 30, including $435,000 in loans made to the campaign.
“In these uncertain budget times, Kansas is fortunate to have Troy Waymaster at the helm leading the House Appropriations Committee and the budget process,” Mann said in a statement.
“Troy has been a fantastic legislator, but more importantly, is a true gentleman and statesman,” he said. “I appreciate his commitment to Kansas and his continued service to our state.”
Clifford also praised Waymaster.
“The mark of a leader is someone who puts service before self, and that’s Troy Waymaster,” Clifford said.
‘Kansas is fortunate to have someone like Troy tackling the state’s budget and helping our economy recover. I’m proud to call him a friend, and I look forward to working together in the future.”
Waymaster will face a primary challenge to return to his House seat, which represents a stretch of north central Kansas and includes Osborne, Russell, Smith, Barton, Jewell, Lincoln and Rush counties. Republican Tom James had already filed for the race.
He was unopposed in the 2018, 2016 and 2014 elections.
