Another southeast Kansan is going to Washington.
Independence native Derek Schmidt has won election to a U.S. House seat.
Schmidt says this is historic for Montgomery County.
Schmidt defeated Democrat Nancy Boyda in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas. Schmidt says Boyda called to congratulate him on the win, but says he wants to represent all voters in the 2nd district.
Both candidates were trying to make a political comeback, seeking a seat that was open because two-term Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner of Galena didn't run again. Schmidt served 12 years as Kansas attorney general before narrowly losing the 2022 governor's race to Democratic incumbent Laura Kelly. Boyda was the last Democrat to represent the 2nd District in Congress. She held the seat in 2007 and 2008.
