Kansas Democrats Matt Kleinmann, Nancy Boyda joust on gun violence, immigration, LGBTQ+ issues

Nancy Boyda and Matt Kleinmann, candidates for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2nd congressional district, spoke about their views on gun violence, immigration and LGBTQ issues during an appearance on WIBW-TV. The primary election is Aug. 6. (Sherman Smith and Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA — Second District congressional candidate Matt Kleinmann wants to tamp down gun violence by closing legal loopholes that enable private sales without background checks and by repealing a federal law that chilled lawsuits against firearm manufacturers and retailers.

Kleinmann, a Wyandotte County community organizer and former University of Kansas basketball player, said if elected to Kansas’ open U.S. House seat that he would vote to repeal the nearly 20-year-old Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

“I know that everybody on the Democrat and Republican side believes in the Second Amendment right to own and bear firearms,” he said on WIBW-TV’s candidate forum with Democratic opponent Nancy Boyda. “However, it’s not right that only one industry in our entire country, the gun industry, is immune from lawsuits and prosecution. It’s only fair that the gun industry includes safety mechanisms in the products they sell.”

Kleinmann said he understood what it was like to live in a community and hear gunshots at night, and imposing universal background checks on sellers had the potential to disrupt gangs or cartels buying guns illegally.

Boyda, who served one term in the U.S. House after elected to the 2nd District seat in 2006, said guns were the leading cause of death among children.

“It’s not just a factoid. These are our children,” she said.

Rather than grapple with Kleinmann’s perspective on background checks and firearm liability, Boyda took aim at former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. He’s the frontrunner in the five-candidate Republican primary in the 2nd District . Boyda objected to positions taken by Schmidt that earned him an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association’s political action committee.

“I believe that is just a radical position that is contrary to what 75% of Kansans believe,” she said. “His double-A rating with the NRA, that’s more important to him than the safety of our children.”

Big question: Why running?

Kleinmann said he entered the race for the congressional seat to be vacated by GOP U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner because the state needed an advocate in Washington for working class Kansans seeking affordable housing, access to health care and investments in their quality of life. Kansans want to be represented by elected officials interested in protecting individual rights — including voting, civil and reproductive rights, he said.

“We need a champion in Congress who is going to fight for everyday working Kansans,” Kleinmann said. “I know as Democrats that when we stand together, as a unified party, we can win this race. I mean it. This is a race about our future. I believe I am the best champion to carry that torch forward.”

Boyda, who defeated Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun in 2006, reminded WIBW-TV viewers no other Democrat in the past 30 years had won a campaign in the 2nd District. Indeed, Boyda lost her first campaign in 2004 to Ryun and her 2008 reelection campaign against GOP nominee Lynn Jenkins.

“I’m in the race because I’m deeply concerned about our country,” Boyda said. “I believe Matt is a great guy, but I believe that I’m the only one … who could bring this home in November. The fact is (Kansas Democratic U.S. Rep.) Sharice Davids and I are the only two who have come out of the Republican buzzsaw and lived to tell about it. Why am I running? I like Matt, but he doesn’t have a chance to come out of the election as a winner.”

Kleinmann and Boyda were asked whether experience in politics — Kleinmann is a first-time candidate, while this is Boyda’s fourth campaign for Congress — should be a consideration among voters.

“Well, experience absolutely does matter,” Boyda said. “I’m the only one who’s been in Congress. I have the widest breadth of experience across so many areas.”

In addition to working on Capitol Hill, she was employed in the pharmaceutical industry, served as a pastor and chaplain, and was appointed deputy assistant secretary of defense in the administration of President Barack Obama. She owns a small farm near Baldwin City.

“It depends on what kind of political experience you’re talking about,” Kleinmann said. “Leadership is an action, not a position. I’ve been a leader in my community for the last 10 years. There are a lot of folks who are running for this office, many of whom are career politicians and bureaucrats. I am not a career politician. I repeat. I am not a career politician.”

“I am running this race so that we can build a movement that restores faith in our democracy and make sure we fight back against extremism,” he said.

Immigration, LGBTQ+

Boyda and Kleinmann found common ground on the challenge of gaining control of the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Both said if elected to Congress they would seek to improve security on the border. Boyda, sounding as if she was in a general election campaign instead of the Democratic primary, criticized Schmidt for opposing a requirement that companies use the web-based E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility of job applicants.

“Border security — that’s where it has to start,” Boyda said. “We have to do something about E-Verify. We need to have a path to citizenship once we get the border secure.”

Kleinmann said there was bipartisan consensus on the need for improved border security, but he criticized “extreme politicians” who skuttled a bipartisan immigration bill. In February, hard-right House Republicans spiked an immigration bill at behest of former President Donald Trump.

“That’s because politicians want to have a broken immigration system so they can win elections. I don’t think that’s right,” Kleinmann said. “We need a smart border security system. Not a dumb wall that people can get over with a ladder or underneath with a tunnel. What that’s going to take is more investment in surveillance, border personnel.”

Touching on a flashpoint in the nation’s culture wars, Boyda renewed an objection to transgender women participating in organized sports programs designated for females. She said the debate changed when transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won an NCAA championship in the 500-yard freestyle event. Thomas was later barred from competing in women’s competitions by World Aquatics, the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

“When it comes to trans girls in sports, it’s no longer this personal, private decision anymore. In fact, it becomes an issue of fairness,” said Boyda, who accused Kleinmann of asserting she was “anti-gay.”

Kleinmann, who played basketball for the KU Jayhawks from 2005 to 2009, has been endorsed by the LGBTQ+ caucus of the Kansas Democratic Party.

“I certainly believe that LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. Full stop,” he said.

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