Nancy Boyda
| Nancy Boyda | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 2nd district |
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In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Ryun |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Jenkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 2, 1955 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Steve Boyda |
| Residence | Topeka, Kansas |
| Alma mater | William Jewell College |
| Occupation | Chemist |
| Religion | Methodist |
Nancy Boyda (born August 2, 1955) is a former Democratic congresswoman representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district. On November 4, 2008, Boyda was defeated for re-election by Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, after serving one term. 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.
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, but became a Democrat in 2003.
In 2004 she ran against Republican incumbent U.S. Congressman Jim Ryun in Kansas' Second District. Boyda criticized Ryun's support for school vouchers and his lack of support for public schools. She said she had left the Republican Party because it had become too conservative. Ryun criticized her for taking part in protests against the Iraq War. Boyda spent $1.1 million on her campaign, $300,000 of it her own money. Ryun spent $1.2 million. George W. Bush carried the district 59%-39% and Ryun defeated Boyda 56%-41%. She only won a single county: Crawford.
Boyda challenged Ryun again in 2006. The district was low on both national parties' political radars. Boyda was helped by good performance by the re-election bid of incumbent Democratic Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius, winning 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%.
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