Amanda Adkins (politician)

Amanda Adkins (née Landes; born 1974/1975)[1] is an American politician and businesswoman who was the chairwoman of the Kansas Republican Party from 2009 to 2013. She was the Republican nominee for Kansas's 3rd congressional district in both the 2020 election and 2022 election,[2][3] losing both times to Democratic incumbent Sharice Davids.

Amanda Adkins
65th Chairwoman of the Kansas Republican Party
In office
January 31, 2009 – January 26, 2013
Preceded byKris Kobach
Succeeded byKelly Arnold
Personal details
Born
Amanda Landes

1974 or 1975 (age 49–50)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJason Adkins
Children2
EducationUniversity of Kansas (BS)

Education

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Amanda Landes, daughter of Bob and Leta (née Blessing) Landes,[4] earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human biology and anthropology from the University of Kansas in 1998.[5]

Career

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After graduating from the University of Kansas, Adkins was a legislative aide in the United States Senate for two years and a staffer on the United States House Committee on Rules. She later worked as the legislative director for Congressman David Dreier.[6] She then worked as the director of GOPAC, a Republican political action committee and 527 training organization.[7]

Adkins worked for the healthcare IT firm Cerner for 15 years. She took a leave of absence from her role as vice president for strategic growth in order to run for the U.S. House in 2020.[8] In January 2021, she left the company permanently.[9]

Elections

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2020 U.S. House campaign

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In the 2020 election, Adkins was a candidate for Kansas's 3rd congressional district. She won the Republican primary election against four other candidates but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat, Sharice Davids, in the November general election.[10]

2022 U.S. House campaign

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In April 2021, Adkins announced that she would again run as a Republican candidate for the district in the 2022 election.[11] She won the Republican primary election against John McCaughrean and lost to incumbent Democrat Davids on a rematch in the November general election.[12]

Personal life

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Adkins and her husband, Jason, have two children. They live in Overland Park, Kansas.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Amanda Adkins Wins the Republican Primary in Kansas' 3rd District". KNSS. August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
    - "Amanda Adkins wins the Republican primary in Kansas' 3rd District". KNSS 98.7/1330. August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Scott, Dylan (August 3, 2020). "Kansas, of all places, is shaping up to be an important 2020 battleground". Vox. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Amanda Adkins kicks off run for Congress in Kansas". AP News. September 10, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  4. ^ Obituary for Bob Landes, bethanyclipper.com. Accessed October 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Your ballot explained". Ballotready. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Current Board of Governors". The Eisenhower Series. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "Amanda Adkins of Overland Park enters race for Rep. Davids' seat, setting up Republican primary". Shawnee Mission Post. September 9, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Gilbert, Jackie (January 27, 2020). "Cerner VP of Strategic Growth goes on leave to focus on political campaign in Kansas". FedHealthIT. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Kevin Hardy (January 6, 2021). "After losing U.S. House race, Adkins will officially leave Kansas City's Cerner Corp". Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rep. Sharice Davids wins Kansas' 3rd congressional district, defeating Amanda Adkins". FOX 4 Kansas City. November 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ex-Kansas GOP Chair Adkins seeks rematch with Rep. Davids". AP News. April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Sharice Davids, Amanda Adkins to face off once again in Kansas 3rd District race". FOX 4 Kansas City. August 2, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Wankum, Leah (January 21, 2020). "In presentation to conservative group, GOP candidate Amanda Adkins says she wants to see debt down, more accountability in public spending". Shawnee Mission Post. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
    - "Five Republicans running for U.S. representative, 3rd District". Wyandotte Daily. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Chairperson of the Kansas Republican Party
2009–2013
Succeeded by