The Kansas Democratic Party is hearing from those who may be interested in running for the 4th District Congressional seat if Republican incumbent Mike Pompeo is confirmed to become the next CIA director.
Lee Kinch, state chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, says several people are thinking about a run for the seat, but none are confirmed.
"[We have] Jim Ward, who is a state representative from here in Sedgwick County, who is also the Democratic leader in the House; Henry Helgerson, who is another state representative from Sedgwick County; Carl Brewer, of course, is the former mayor of Wichita," Kinch says.
Other names mentioned include former state Rep. Dennis McKinney, entrepreneur Laura Lombard and Robert Tillman, who ran for the 4th District seat in 2014 and 2016.
If Pompeo is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will call a special election between the Republican and Democratic choices. Independents can also run if they can garner enough signatures from the district.
Kinch says an election could take place in March or April.
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Carla Eckels is assistant news director and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.
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