Jeff Klemp
Jeff Klemp | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 5th district | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff Pittman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Kansas Baker University (MBA) |
Jeff Klemp is an American politician and farmer serving as a member of the Kansas Senate from the 5th district since 2025.
Early life and education
[edit]Klemp is a lifelong resident of Leavenworth County, Kansas.[1] He was raised on a farm and graduated from Leavenworth High School. He earned a degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Baker University.[2][better source needed]
Career
[edit]Klemp founded Century Van Lines, a transportation company and served as a member of the Fire Board of Leavenworth County. In 2011, Klemp challenged incumbent Andi Pawlowski for Ward 2 of the Lansing city council.[1] He was defeated with 185 votes to Pawlowski's 222.[3] He served as chief restructuring officer of Basil Street Pizza, a vending machine company.[4]
Kansas Senate
[edit]Elections
[edit]In 2024, Klemp ran for the Kansas Senate challenging incumbent Democrat Jeff Pittman for the 5th district. The race attracted large amounts of spending, including $100,000 supporting Klemp from the Kansas Republican Senatorial Committee and $54,000 supporting Pittman governor Laura Kelly's Middle of the Road PAC.[5] Following a recount by the Kansas Secretary of State, Klemp was declared the winner by 31 votes. He attributed his victory, as well as the Kansas Republican Party expanding its supermajorities in the House and Senate, to concerns on taxes.[6]
Tenure
[edit]In 2025, Klemp advocated for Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds to be used to redevelop shopping malls.[7]
Electoral history
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Jeff Klemp | 3,174 | 59.30 | |
| Republican | Echo Van Meteren | 2,178 | 40.70 | |
| Total votes | 5,352 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Jeff Klemp | 15,732 | 50.05 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Pittman (incumbent) | 15,701 | 49.95 | |
| Total votes | 31,433 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Linn, Tim (March 15, 2011). "Incumbent, challenger vie for Ward 2 council seat". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ "About Jeff".
- ^ "Lansing City Council results". The Leavenworth Times. April 6, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ Wolf, Michael (May 5, 2022). "Basil Street Pizza Taking Final Bids For Assets to Pizza Robot Business". The Spoon. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ^ Kaminski, Anna (November 1, 2025). "Kansas Republican committees, Democratic governor's PAC spend big on battleground races". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ^ Hills, Grace (January 6, 2025). "New Republican Kansas senators say tax concerns led to larger supermajorities". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Sherman (March 10, 2025). "Kansas House members scrutinize Senate plan to rehab malls with STAR bonds". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 10, 2025.