ABSTRACT
Sharice Davids’s convincing 3rd District win ended a 50-year run of moderate-conservative legislators from this district and fit firmly within the national House Democratic gains in 2018, when suburban districts, responding to the voting strength of well-educated women, among others, reshuffled American politics. As Kevin Yoder sought reelection in the most challenging national environment that he had faced since entering Congress, Kansas Democrats, for the first time in eight years, sniffed a real opportunity. The 3rd District race simmered down immediately after the primary, with both Davids and Yoder seemingly slow to switch to general election mode, apart from routine press statements and appearances. As August progressed, however, the building volume of television advertising breathed more life into the race. At age 42 in 2018, Yoder had retained much of his status as a golden boy of Kansas politics.
