| Nancy Boyda | |
| State: | Kansas |
| Term Start: | January 3, 2007 |
| Term End: | January 3, 2009 |
| Predecessor: | Jim Ryun |
| Successor: | Lynn Jenkins |
| Birth Date: | 2 August 1955 |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic (2003–present) |
| Otherparty: | Republican (before 2003) |
| Spouse: | Steve Boyda |
| Education: | William Jewell College (BS) |
Nancy Boyda (born August 2, 1955) is an American chemist and politician. She is a former Democratic U.S. Representative for, serving from 2007 to 2009. On November 4, 2008, Boyda was defeated for re-election to a second term by Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins.[1] She was the Democratic nominee for the seat in the 2024 election, where she was defeated by Republican candidate Derek Schmidt.[2]
Boyda graduated with honors from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where she received dual degrees in chemistry and education. She began her career in 1978 working as an analytical chemist and field inspector. Boyda grew up in a Republican family and later became a Democrat in 2003.
Boyda challenged Ryun again in 2006. The district was low on both national parties' political radars. Boyda was helped by the successful re-election bid of Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who won 57% to 40%. Ryun was a strongly conservative Republican and the Republican Party of Kansas had been rife with infighting between conservatives and moderates; moderate Republicans seem to have defected to both Sebelius and Boyda. There was also the issue of Ryun's purchase of a Washington, D.C. townhouse from Tom DeLay associates at a price well below market value. She defeated Ryun by 51% to 47% in an upset.[4]
In January 2007, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole announced that the NRCC intended to target Boyda in 2008. Ryun announced that he would try to get his old seat back, and Republican leaders reportedly assured him that he would win.[5] On April 4, 2007, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins officially announced she would run in the Republican primary. She defeated State Senator Dennis Pyle in the primary.
Boyda and Jenkins were opposed in the general election by Libertarian Party candidate Robert Garrard and Reform Party candidate Leslie Martin. Boyda announced that, unlike in 2006, she would not seek assistance from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for her 2008 campaign. She said that "Kansas voters should control Kansas campaigns" and that Kansans should be able to "run our election without Washington interference".[6] The National Republican Congressional Committee spent heavily on behalf of Jenkins,[7] who defeated Boyda 51% to 46%.[8] In April 2009, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen said that Boyda left him a message saying that she regretted turning down the organisation's assistance and asked Van Hollen to play the message to any vulnerable Democrat who was considering turning down the committee's assistance. Van Hollen said that Boyda "has been very clear about the fact that she made a mistake... she clearly felt that not participating [with the DCCC's help] was a good part of the reason she failed."[9]
Boyda, as a freshman, introduced a bill,, to deny pensions to members of Congress convicted of bribery, conspiracy or perjury charges. The Bill passed in the House of Representatives on January 23, 2007, by a vote of 431–0. Boyda also applied to join the House Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of conservative Democratic representatives. She was unable to join as adding her would have put the Blue Dogs over their membership limit of 47.[10]
On May 10, 2007, Boyda voted against, a measure, "to provide for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq."[11] However, she continues to support gradual troop withdrawal while funding troops until they return.[12]
Her Chief of Staff Shanan Guinn said, "She was frustrated with how the administration is handling the war, that no one wants to have a real conversation about ways to move forward and our brave men and women overseas are being played like a political ping pong ball."[13]
Boyda later told the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury, that she did not "walk out" of the meeting. Instead, she "stepped into a little room" adjacent to the meeting for five minutes, then returned. She hoped to draw a distinction between politely excusing herself and storming out of the room.[14]
Following her term in Congress, Boyda was named by President Barack Obama as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Personnel at The Pentagon, and was sworn into the position on July 20, 2009.[15]
See main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Kansas. It was reported in April 2019 that Boyda was exploring a candidacy for the Kansas Senate election in 2020.[16] She subsequently announced her candidacy to seek the Democratic nomination on July 1, 2019.[17] While campaigning, she argued said campaign finance practices and gerrymandering are big reasons why politicians don't "work across the aisle," and she said her campaign aims to break gridlock.[18]
Boyda withdrew from the race saying she would begin a non-profit to break partisan divide as opposed to running for the Senate.[19] [20]
Boyda filed to run for Kansas's 2nd District for the 2024 elections.[21] She defeated Matt Kleinmann in the Democratic primary, and faced former state Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the general election.
Boyda has said her priorities are bipartisan immigration reform, tax cuts for working class individuals and campaign finance reform. Like in her 2020 Senate campaign, she has expressed her desire to try to bridge the divide among Kansans politically.[22]
In 2007, Boyda talked with protestors during a public appearance in Lawrence, Kansas after she voted to provide additional funds for America's troops serving in the Iraq War. She explained her vote by saying she would support the troops, and “I am going to do what I can to bring those troops home as soon as possible.” She continued, “It’s the Republican side of the aisle that’s holding things up.”[23]
In 2008 Boyda opposed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage during a debate with her general election opponent and said that lawmakers should avoid "tampering" with the U.S. Constitution, in reference to a push to amend the Constitution to ban marriage equality. During that period, she also stated, "I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman" and voted with 39 other moderate Democrats in 2008 for an amendment that pulled back domestic partner benefits to public employees in the District of Columbia.[24] [25]
During her 2024 campaign, Boyda expressed strong support for LGBTQIA rights, including marriage equality, laws that protect the community from employment discrimination, housing and public accommodation discrimination and equal access to health care. She also shared that she is the proud parent of a gay son and is concerned with bullying and violence toward LGBTQIA people saying, "I am deeply concerned with increased bullying and violence toward the community. If elected, I will consistently vote to respect and protect the right to privacy no matter what our current activist Supreme Court does."[26]
Boyda was married to Steve Boyda, a Marine Corps veteran and police officer. She has two children and one granddaughter. She lives on a small farm outside of Baldwin City, Kansas.[27]