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 | Jeffrey Christopher Klemp 1969 (age 56–57) |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Kansas (BA) Baker University (MBA) |
Jeffrey Christopher Klemp is an American politician serving as a member of the Kansas Senate from the 5th district since 2025. A Republican, he is the running mate of Ty Masterson for lieutenant governor in the 2026 Kansas gubernatorial election.
Early life and education
[edit]Klemp is a lifelong resident of Leavenworth County, Kansas.[1] He was reportedly raised on an angus farm and graduated from Leavenworth High School.[2][better source needed] Klemp earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Baker University.[3]
Business career
[edit]Klemp founded Century Van Lines, a moving company based in Leavenworth County, and serves as its president and CEO. He and his wife own the company; he also holds ownership stakes in several consulting companies including Kinetic Retail Group.[4]
In August 2020, Klemp was appointed chief operating officer and as a director of pizza vending machine company Basil Street Cafe, Inc.[3] In May 2022, he was noted as the company's chief restructuring officer during its liquidation.[5]
Political career
[edit]Elections
[edit]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.[6]
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 from governor Laura Kelly's Middle of the Road PAC.[7] A week prior to the election, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his associated Champion American Values PAC endorsed Klemp.[8]
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.[9]
At the start of June 2026, senate president Ty Masterson announced Klemp as his running mate for lieutenant governor in the 2026 Kansas gubernatorial election.[10]
Tenure
[edit]In 2025, Klemp advocated for Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds to be used to redevelop shopping malls.[11]
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]- 1 2 Linn, Tim (March 15, 2011). "Incumbent, challenger vie for Ward 2 council seat". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ↑ "About Jeff". Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "FORM 1-A". Securities and Exchange Commission. July 19, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Alatidd, Jason (September 1, 2026). "What Kansas politicians put in financial disclosures". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Wolf, Michael (May 5, 2022). "Basil Street Pizza Taking Final Bids For Assets to Pizza Robot Business". The Spoon. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ↑ "Lansing City Council results". The Leavenworth Times. April 6, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ↑ Kaminski, Anna (November 1, 2025). "Kansas Republican committees, Democratic governor's PAC spend big on battleground races". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ↑ Carpenter, Tim (October 30, 2024). "Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offers endorsement in Kansas Senate campaign". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Hills, Grace (January 6, 2025). "New Republican Kansas senators say tax concerns led to larger supermajorities". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ↑ Self, Matthew (June 1, 2026). "Masterson selects running mate in race for Kansas governor". KSNT. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Sherman (March 10, 2025). "Kansas House members scrutinize Senate plan to rehab malls with STAR bonds". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 10, 2025.