Definitely Not Fred Rogers

Between 1986 and 2014, Kansas Democratic gubernatorial nominees were opposed in just three of eight cycles. One candidate ran in all three of these primaries: controversial founder of the Westboro Baptist Church Fred Phelps. Phelps came in last in each race, winning 6.7 percent in 1990’s primary won by Treasurer Joan Finney, 3.4 percent in the 1994 contest won by Congressman Jim Slattery, and 14.7 percent in 1998’s two-candidate race with state Representative Tom Sawyer. Phelps also won 30.8 percent in the 1992 Democratic U.S. Senate primary against Gloria O’Dell and less than one percent in Topeka’s 1997 mayoral race.