Rep. Sharice Davids faces Democratic primary challengers; GOP sets Aug. 4 race

Freddrell Green, The Kansas City Star on Jul 28, 2026

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The race to represent Kansas’ 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives will feature a longtime incumbent who is being challenged by a fellow Democrat seeking a change.

Two Republicans will face each other in the Aug. 4 primary. The winner will advance to the general election in November.

Sharice Davids

Party: Democrat

About this candidate: Sharice Davids is seeking another two-year term representing the 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district includes Johnson, Franklin and Anderson counties. Davids is one of the first two Native American women to ever serve in Congress and the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from Kansas. She lives in Roeland Park and is also a mixed martial artist.

You should know: Davids is the ranking member in the U.S. House Agriculture General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit Subcommittee, where she conducted a Farm Bill listening tour across every county in the 3rd District and introduced the Resilient Food Supply Chain and Affordability Act.

She helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act and voted to raise the federal minimum wage. She also supported the Inflation Reduction Act, the Great American Outdoors Act, the Protecting America’s Public Lands Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Sarah Preu

Party: Democrat

About this candidate: Sarah Preu is seeking to unseat the incumbent, Sharice Davids, to represent the 3rd District, which includes Johnson, Franklin and Anderson counties. Preu is a resident of Mission. She is a 20-plus year professional who has worked in product management, content strategy and content development.

You should know: Some of Preu’s biggest issues she wants to address are healthcare, the economy and climate. She supports the Medicare for All Act and also wants a federal minimum wage to increase to $17 an hour by 2030. Preu said that it’s important to protect and expand the De Soto Corridor, enhance RideKC services so that it is free to ride between Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

Eric Jenkins

Party: Republican

About this candidate: Eric Jenkins is pursuing the congressional seat to continue his mission of decreasing government spending and oversight. A 34-year military veteran and Legion of Merit awardee, Jenkins worked for three decades at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He served for 20 years as planning commissioner of Shawnee City and eventually served as city council president from 2021 to 2023.

You should know: Jenkins’ career experiences instilled a strong belief in reduced government and local solutions. Jenkins wants to oppose deficit spending, extend Trump-era tax cuts and oppose any broad-based tax increases on Kansas residents. He’s an advocate for veteran healthcare, a proponent for defunding cities that obstruct federal immigration enforcement and opposes the Green New Deal. Jenkins is in favor of appointing constitutionalist judges at every level.

Chase LaPorte

Party: Republican

About this candidate: Chase LaPorte is a U.S. military veteran running for U.S. representative of 3rd District.

You should know: LaPorte said that he is against “career politicians,” and said he believed that those politicians want to maintain their own power more than protecting Kansas citizens’ interests. He has pledged to co-sponsor and vote on a U.S. term limits amendment of three house terms, two senate terms and no longer limit, if elected.

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