In a surprise blast-from-the-past, former Rep. Nancy Boyda told the Labette County Democrats on Thursday that she was considering a bid for Kansas’ open Senate seat. Boyda, who pitched herself as a centrist, said she would think about running over the next few months. Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Kansas since 1932, which Boyda acknowledged as she called this contest a “tremendous uphill battle.”
If Boyda runs, she may face a competitive primary against former U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, whom the National Journal reportedly may have inadvertently revealed his plans to run on Twitter. In what was likely meant to be a private message, Grissom tweeted to a state Democratic activist that he planned to announce a bid on July 1. The tweet has been deleted.
Back in 2006, Boyda pulled off a big upset to win the previous version of Kansas’ 2nd District. Boyda had challenged GOP Rep. Jim Ryun the previous cycle in a seat located in the Topeka area and lost by a wide 56-41 as George W. Bush was carrying the district 59-39, and there wasn’t much optimism about her second bid.
This time, though, Boyda was running in an awful environment for the GOP. Boyda also shared a ballot with Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who was on her way to a landslide win. Ryun was also hurt by his connections to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and to Florida Rep. Mark Foley, who had resigned in disgrace after he sent sexual messages to teenage pages. The DCCC launched a late last-minute buy to help Boyda, but it was still a big surprise when she won 51-47.