Rick Kloos
Rick Kloos | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 19th district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Hensley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Gene Kloos July 26, 1966 Miltonvale, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Pennie Kloos |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Trinity College, Ellendale, North Dakota (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Richard Gene Kloos (born July 26, 1966) is a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 19th district, which covers Topeka and eastern Shawnee County, western Douglas County and all of Osage County and Jefferson County.[1] On November 3, 2020, he defeated Anthony Hensley, who had been holding office in the Kansas statehouse for 44 years, by 51.2% to 48.8%.[2][3]
Career
[edit]In June 2009, Rick started God's Storehouse in Topeka, Kansas, a non-profit, community thrift store with over 80 employees.[4]
2018 Kansas Governor campaign
[edit]Kloos ran as an Independent for governor, on a ticket with his son, Nathaniel, running for lieutenant governor. They finished last, in 5th place in the general election, with 6,584 votes, 0.6% of the total.[5][6]
2020 Kansas 19th Senate district campaign
[edit]Kloos ran unchallenged in the GOP primary; however, he received 6,758 in the primary.[7] He beat Anthony Hensley 16,141 votes to 15,383 votes, 51% to 49%, in the November 3, 2020 general election—in what Titus Wu of the Topeka Capitol-Journal has called "a huge upset victory".[3][2] Hensley had at least three times the campaign budget that Kloos had.[1] Kloos opposes abortion and was endorsed by Kansans for Life.[1] Hensley had represented the area for 44 years as either the state representative or state senator.[5] The Kloos campaign outraised Hensley $37,433 to $1,286.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Kloos and his wife Pennie have been married for 34 years and have lived in Berryton, Kansas for 22 years. They have four grown boys, along with seven grandchildren.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Carpenter, Tim. Ill-fated campaign for Kan. governor guides shocking run against icon Hensley, Hays Post, Eagle Communications, November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Election Results, KSNT-TV Channel 27, Topeka, Kansas, November 6, 2020.
- ^ a b Wu, Titus. Rick Kloos pulls upset win over Anthony Hensley; GOP sweeps Topeka’s Kansas Senate races, Topeka Capitol-Journal, November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ About, God's Storehouse, Topeka, Kansas. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Rick Kloos, Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Clarkin, Mary. High school dropout running for governor, Hutchinson News, December 27, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Feuerborn, Mark. Topeka thrift store founder ends state Democrat leader Hensley’s 27-year tenure, KSNT-TV Channel 27, Topeka, Kansas, November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Anthony Hensley, OpenSecrets. Retrieved June 14, 2021.