“After nearly two years of representation by a scandal-ridden Congressman, Kansans in the 2nd District are looking for a leader who can get to work on the serious challenges facing our country. As Mayor of Topeka, Michelle De La Isla has proven time and again that she knows how to work across the partisan divide to deliver on critical issues like affordable housing and growing jobs and small businesses. After making it through cancer and homelessness, Michelle hasn’t just beaten the odds – she has dedicated her life to ensuring Kansans can have their shot at the American Dream. I look forward to watching her continue that work in Congress.” – DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos
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NOTE: New KS-02 DCCC polling show Mayor Michelle De La Isla neck and neck with Jake LaTurner, trailing by only 4 points (41-45), within the margin of error of +/-4.4%. This poll was conducted from 7/29-7/30 through a standard blend of live cell phone and automated calls, with a sample size of 488 general election likely voters. The results mirror an internal poll released by the LaTurner campaign just two weeks ago showing the race in a dead heat.
To: Interested Parties
From: Brooke Goren, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: August 4, 2020
Subject: The Case Against Jake LaTurner
In 2018, Congressman Steve Watkins won Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District by just over 2,000 votes. After a voter fraud scandal brought a quick end to Watkins’ political career, even Republicans admit it will be a challenge to hold this seat. Fresh off of a bitter primary fight against Watkins, Jake LaTurner heads into the general election at a significant fundraising disadvantage and saddled with deeply unpopular policy positions.
As a state representative, LaTurner built a reputation as a rubberstamp for highly unpopular former Governor Sam Brownback. LaTurner was a champion for Brownback’s failed 2012 tax experiment, which “tanked” Kansas’ economy and voted against expanding the state’s Medicaid system to include more low income Kansans. With health care and the economy top of mind for voters amid the coronavirus pandemic, LaTurner has proven that he can’t be trusted to put their interests ahead of the wealthy and powerful special interests.
Michelle De La Isla’s record could not offer a stronger contrast. As Mayor of Topeka, Michelle has developed a strong brand as an independent problem solver who will work with anyone – regardless of political party – to create more opportunity for her constituents. No wonder LaTurner himself called her “formidable.”
Michelle’s story is the embodiment of the American Dream. The first Latina mayor of Topeka, Michelle grew up in poverty, was homeless, and survived domestic violence, before earning her degree at Wichita State University. After moving to Topeka, Michelle worked for several non-profit organizations and has used her own experience to help others overcome their circumstances. Michelle has spent her career advocating for her community and empowering Kansans to participate in their government. Now, she’s running for Congress to give them a voice in Washington and work towards solutions on key priorities like lowering health care and prescription drug costs, creating good paying jobs, and expanding opportunity so that every Kansan has the chance to succeed.
With a strong base of grassroots support, Michelle has built a powerful campaign that offers Kansans a different kind of leadership. After nearly two years of representation by a scandal-ridden Republican Congressman, voters in the 2nd District are ready for a change, and Michelle De La Isla is the candidate to do it.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
HEADLINE: LaTurner’s quick turn gives pause [Topeka Capital-Journal Editorial, 1/11/19]
“De La Isla said in an interview that health care and everyday issues will be central to her campaign. She promised she would fight to preserve the flow of federal dollars to Kansas if state lawmakers expand Medicaid this year.” [Witchita Eagle, 1/07/20]
“De La Isla’s fundraising prowess and Watkins’ legal woes should be a concern for Republicans, said Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner, Watkins’ primary challenger. ‘Listen Michelle De La Isla is going to be a formidable candidate. You heard it here first…’ LaTurner said.” [Kansas City Star, 7/16/20]
“Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla, a Democrat running for Congress, outraised incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Watkins and his primary challenger combined during the first quarter of 2020, according to new campaign finance filings.” [Kansas City Star, 4/16/20]
Jake LaTurner: A Brownback Republican and Danger to Kansans’ Health Care
A BROWNBACK REPUBLICAN THROUGH-AND-THROUGH
Still dealing with the fallout from former Governor Sam Brownback’s disastrous tax experiment, the last thing Kansans need is a Brownback Republican like Jake LaTurner in Congress. In the state legislature, LaTurner was a solid ally of Brownback, praising and voting for Brownback’s failed tax experiment. LaTurner’s fealty to Brownback paid off, earning him a 2017 appointment as Brownback’s state treasurer. No wonder the former governor called him “a fiercely loyal Kansan.”
In 2017, shortly before Brownback appointed him Treasurer, LaTurner helped block the repeal of the tax experiment – despite evidence that it had “tanked” Kansans’ economy, making it difficult to balance the state’s budget and setting off massive cuts to critical services like public education.
In 2016, LaTurner was one of the deciding votes on a Brownback budget that cut over a hundred million dollars from the state’s highway funds, $17 million in cuts to higher education, and delayed nearly $100 million in payments related to the state’s pension system.
The failed Brownback-LaTurner tax experiment remains top of mind for voters who are still dealing with its effects – especially amid coronavirus-induced recession. Thanks to deep cuts during the Brownback-era, the state’s unemployment system hasn’t been updated from the 1970’s, slowing down the delivery of checks for more than a hundred thousand Kansans left jobless by the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Michelle De La Isla offers a different, refreshing model for leadership in Kansas. As Mayor of Topeka, she has worked alongside the city council to lure more good-paying jobs to the city and worked to ensure her constituents have the information necessary to keep themselves safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
LATURNER IS A DISASTER FOR KANSANS’ HEALTH CARE
Despite being voters’ number one concern, health care issues do not appear once on Jake LaTurner’s campaign website – and one look at his record makes it clear why.
Perhaps most concerning, LaTurner has been a longtime opponent of expanding Kancare, the state’s Medicaid program. After voting for and helping to execute Sam Brownback’s failed tax experiment, LaTurner argued that the state couldn’t afford Medicaid expansion, prompting harsh criticism from his local editorial board. Amid a global pandemic that has left tens of thousands of Kansans unemployed, LaTurner’s failure to prioritize their needs in the state legislature will be on full display.
Kansans have also watched for years as LaTurner and his party pushed to increase health care costs and gut protections for 287,800 people in the 2nd Congressional District with pre-existing conditions like asthma, cancer, and the coronavirus. LaTurner is “solidly against Obamacare” and refused to stand up to his Washington backers attempt to destroy the entire Affordable Care Act in court in the middle of a global pandemic.
In contrast, Michelle De La Isla has made the fight for quality, affordable health care a cornerstone of her campaign. As a cancer survivor, Michelle knows firsthand how difficult it is to fight a serious illness without access to health insurance. On the campaign trail, she often talks about the crippling anxiety of watching bills pile up in the mail as she faced treatment, and spending the next decade figure out how to pay them off as she raised her three children. Driven by her own experience, Michelle is running to make sure every Kansans can have access to health care without breaking the bank, to lower the price of prescription drugs, and to help Kansas expand Medicaid so that more low income families can get covered.
PATH TO VICTORY
While Republicans battled it out in one of the nastiest primary battles in the country, Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla has spent the last seven months communicating her vision to voters across this district on issues ranging from health care costs to rebuilding Kansas’ economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
While this district has a history of supporting Republicans, in 2018, Governor Laura Kelly carried this district by 9 points in the major party vote while the Democratic congressional nominee, Paul Davis, came up short here by less than a point. Recent internal polling released by LaTurner himself showed the race essentially tied.
From day one, Michelle’s strong profile and base of the support has put this seat in play for Democrats. She is the first Latina ever elected mayor of Topeka and has a strong track record of delivering for Kansans.
After enduring months of headlines about their scandal-ridden and ineffective Congressman, Kansans are ready for a refreshing voice who will reform Washington, take on special interests and put Kansans first. Michelle De La Isla has the character, track record, and grassroots support to win this race in November.
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