Only Republicans Running for Kansas Insurance Post

Voters in Kansas’ Aug. 3 Republican primary will probably decide the insurance commissioner’s race.

No Democratic, Libertarian or Reform Party candidates filed for the office before the June 10 deadline.

Incumbent Republican Sandy Praeger, of Lawrence, is seeking her third term. She’s being challenged in the primary by David Powell, of El Dorado, an insurance agency owner who’s been active in the tea party movement.

Independent candidates can still file, but they would need to collect the signatures of at least 5,000 registered voters and submit them to the secretary of state’s office by Aug. 2.

Democrat Kathleen Sebelius served two terms as commissioner before being elected governor in 2002. She became U.S. health and human services secretary in 2009.