U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp filed for re-election this week for the 1st District. The lawmaker paid his $1,760 filing fee in Topeka. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported the legislator is polishing his credential as a tea party rebel who is not afraid to ruffle the most influential Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C.
Huelskamp promises to fight "wasteful spending, burdensome over-regulations and incompetence of the Obama administration."
"Every day the threat of government red tape worsens as Obama's bureaucrats now want to regulate cow gas, farm ponds and private property in an unprecedented assault on rural America and our way of life," he said.
The representative was removed from the House agriculture and budget committee in 2012. A 1st district congressman had served on the committee for at least the last 100 years.
Huelskamp will not run unopposed. Bryan Whitney from Wichita is seeking the Democratic nomination. Republican Alan LaPolice, a Clyde resident, has also filed. Democrat Jim Sherow, of Manhattan, and Republican Kent Roth, of Ellinwood, has expressed interest in the office.
The 1st District is made up of 63 counties in central and western Kansas. The largest cities are Manhattan, Hutchinson, Salina, Dodge City, Garden City, Hays and Liberal.
Candidates must file by June 2 for the Aug. 5 primary.