Jenkins bounces Boyda

TOPEKA — Republican challenger Lynn Jenkins ousted first-term Democrat Rep. Nancy Boyda in Kansas’ 2nd District race Tuesday, a rare defeat for the party in a year that it gained House seats nationally.

With most of the votes counted, Jenkins, a two-term state treasurer, had 51 percent to Boyda’s 46 percent, winning in all but five counties. Libertarian and Reform Party candidates split the rest.

In Franklin County, Jenkins defeated Boyda 6,444 to 4,462.

The state’s three other incumbents had much easier nights.

Republican Rep. Jerry Moran defeated Democrat challenger Jim Bordonaro in the 1st District, Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt defeated State Sen. Donald Betts in the 4th District, and Democrat Rep. Dennis Moore won a sixth term against Republican State Sen. Nick Jordan in the 3rd District.

Jenkins touted her credentials as state treasurer and a certified public accountant, and emphasized a pledge not to raise taxes. Boyda portrayed herself as a political independent fighting to help the middle class and small businesses.

‘‘We had some tense and lively discussions in this campaign,’’ Jenkins told supporters at a Topeka hotel. ‘‘Because of it, the 2nd District of Kansas is better off.’’

But Jenkins’ victory probably means that Republicans will lose the state treasurer’s office for at least the next two years. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, will name a replacement to finish Jenkins’ term there.

Boyda told supporters she was hoping for more than one term, but noted her victory two years ago was considered a long shot.

‘‘Two years ago, I stood up here under very different circumstances. I said that I’d won elections and lost elections, and winning was better,’’ Boyda said. ‘‘Winning is better.’’

The race in the 2nd District was the hottest contest in the state, just as it was two years ago when Boyda unseated five-term Republican Rep. Jim Ryun, a former Olympian. Ryun tried a comeback this year, but lost to Jenkins in the GOP primary.

The 26-county district includes Topeka and part of Lawrence. It’s also home to Fort Riley, where the Army’s 1st Infantry Division has its headquarters, and Fort Leavenworth, which houses the Command and General Staff College.

In the weeks leading up to the election, the economy dominated the debate between Boyda and Jenkins.

Jenkins advocated making permanent the tax relief policies pushed successfully by President Bush in his first term, and she has said Congress should cut spending to shrink the budget deficit. Boyda said she favors tax relief for the middle class and would close tax loopholes for big corporations and wealthy individuals before cutting important programs.

‘‘I know it won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight. Things are a mess and I intend to go back there and clean it up,’’ Jenkins said.

Douglas County played a role in both the 2nd and 3rd District races, though only one Democrat incumbent will return in January. Voters said they backed either Boyda or Moore, regardless of their own party affiliation, to improve the chances that real change will occur — especially related to the economy and continued fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘‘A lot of the problems that we have today are because we are too split,’’ said Lawanna Huslig, 35, an independent voter in Lawrence. ‘‘We need to pull together.’’