Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla announces bid for 2nd Congressional seat
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla has entered the race Monday morning for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
In December, De La Isla said she was torn in her decision. Democratic party leaders hinted to KSNT News Sunday that De La Isla may be running.
De La Isla confirmed the rumors with a campaign announcement at 9:30 a.m. at Juli’s Coffee and Bistro in downtown Topeka. The mayor is the only announced Democratic candidate thus far, though she said she won’t let partisanship affect her.
“I’m focused more on people, I don’t see red and blue,” De La Isla said. “I think that that is what is going to give this campaign a leg-up.”
De La Isla said if elected, her primary focus would be healthcare expansion in the state of Kansas.
“The federal government provided for us to have Medicare expansion,” De La Isla said. “When I get to Congress, my intention is to advocate so that those federal funds that are available to states, remain available, so that we can end that gap of 150,000 people that are not currently insured in the state of Kansas.”
The mayor will face off with either incumbent Steve Watkins or State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, determined by a Republican primary.