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The Political Trajectory of Lynn Jenkins

An analytical examination of her career in Kansas and federal government.

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Biographical Overview

Early Life and Education

Born Lynn Haag on June 10, 1963, in Holton, Kansas, Jenkins hails from a family with deep roots in the state. She pursued higher education, graduating from Kansas State University and Weber State University. Her academic background includes a major in accounting and a minor in economics, culminating in her qualification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Entry into Public Service

Jenkins began her political career in the Kansas State Legislature, serving in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2000, followed by a term in the Kansas Senate from 2000 to 2002. Her early public service laid the foundation for her subsequent statewide and national roles.

State Treasurer

In 2002, Jenkins was elected as the 37th Treasurer of Kansas, a position she held from January 13, 2003, to January 3, 2009. During her tenure, she was actively involved in national associations, serving as president of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST).

Federal Representation

U.S. House of Representatives

Representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district, Lynn Jenkins served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2019. Her decade of service in the House marked a significant period in her public career.

Leadership Role

Jenkins held the position of Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2017. This role placed her in a key leadership position within the Republican party in the House.

Committee Assignments

Throughout her tenure in the House, Jenkins was a member of influential committees, including the Committee on Financial Services and later the Committee on Ways and Means, demonstrating her focus on fiscal and economic policy.

Bipartisanship and Caucuses

Jenkins was recognized for her bipartisan efforts, ranking as a notably bipartisan member during the 114th Congress. She was also an active participant in various caucuses, including the Republican Study Committee, Republican Main Street Partnership, and the Tea Party Caucus, reflecting a diverse range of affiliations.

Policy Positions

Fiscal and Economic Policy

Jenkins generally advocated for conservative fiscal policies, emphasizing reduced government spending to stimulate job growth and improve the economy. She opposed tax increases as a means to balance the budget and supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, asserting its benefits for middle-class families and economic expansion.

Energy and Environment

She supported the Keystone XL Pipeline, citing job creation and enhanced U.S. competitiveness. Jenkins also backed federal funding for renewable energy initiatives. However, she expressed opposition to federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, viewing them as government overreach.

Gun Law

Jenkins maintained a strong stance on gun rights, earning an 'A' rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. While supporting background checks at gun shows and restrictions on certain semi-automatic firearms, she generally aligned with pro-Second Amendment positions.

Healthcare

Jenkins was a proponent of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as "Obamacare," aligning with a common Republican platform position during her tenure.

Immigration

Her approach to immigration focused on border security, advocating for technological enhancements and additional fencing. Jenkins opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants and expressed openness to legislative solutions for DACA recipients, emphasizing the need for input from constituents.

Abortion and LGBT Issues

Jenkins' positions on social issues presented a complex picture. While she sometimes described herself as "pro-choice" early in her career and received endorsements from pro-choice Republican PACs, her voting record and later endorsements from anti-abortion groups indicated a shift or nuanced stance. She supported exceptions for rape, incest, and life endangerment but opposed partial-birth abortions and federal funding for abortion providers. On LGBT issues, she opposed same-sex marriage but supported including sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws and voted for hate crime legislation including sexual orientation.

Electoral History

Kansas Legislature

Jenkins demonstrated electoral success early in her career, winning her races for the Kansas House of Representatives in 1998 and the Kansas Senate in 2000.

Kansas House of Representatives, District 52:

YearPartyCandidateVotes%
1998RepublicanLynn Jenkins5,55063%
DemocraticFran Lee3,21837%

Kansas Senate, District 20:

YearPartyCandidateVotes%
2000RepublicanLynn Jenkins20,98767%
DemocraticJim Clark10,18733%

Kansas State Treasurer

Jenkins secured victory in the 2002 election for State Treasurer and was re-elected in 2006, demonstrating consistent support across two terms.

YearPartyCandidateVotes%
2002RepublicanLynn Jenkins457,40756%
DemocraticSally Finney354,15744%
2006RepublicanLynn Jenkins516,94064%
DemocraticLarry Wilson286,14836%

U.S. House Elections

Jenkins won election to the U.S. House in 2008 and was subsequently re-elected four times, serving until her retirement in 2019.

YearDistrictPartyCandidateVotes%
20082ndRepublicanLynn Jenkins155,53251%
2ndDemocraticNancy Boyda142,01346%
20102ndRepublicanLynn Jenkins130,03463%
2ndDemocraticCheryl Hudspeth66,58832%
20122ndRepublicanLynn Jenkins131,95061%
2ndDemocraticTobias Schlingensiepen76,24935%
20142ndRepublicanLynn Jenkins128,74257%
2ndDemocraticMarge Wakefield87,15339%
20162ndRepublicanLynn Jenkins181,22861%
2ndDemocraticBritani Potter96,84033%

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Lynn Jenkins Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data and has been refined for clarity and context suitable for advanced academic study.

This is not professional political or legal advice. The information provided herein should not substitute for consultation with qualified professionals or direct review of official legislative records and sources. The accuracy and completeness of the data are based on the source material and may not reflect the most current information.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided.