Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo endorsed Dr. Prasanth Reddy for Kansas‘s 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday, giving the political newcomer another key endorsement ahead of the GOP primary in August.
Pompeo, who served as the CIA director in the Trump administration and a former congressman who represented the 4th District in Kansas, said Reddy “personifies service over self, and the American Dream.”
“I’m proud to endorse Dr. Prasanth Reddy for Kansas’ 3rd District,” Pompeo said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “He’ll bring common sense back to the 3rd District, and he’ll make a real difference in Congress. I’m all-in to help him win.”
Reddy is competing to challenge Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), who is the incumbent in the race that is House Republicans’ top target this election cycle. Davids flipped the Kansas seat in 2018 and became the first Democrat to represent the Kansas congressional district in a decade.
Reddy, an oncologist and retired Air Force veteran, must first win a primary in early August. He will face business owner Karen Crnkovich and Kansas City police officer Jonathon Westbrook in the primary.
“Secretary Mike Pompeo is a proud son of Kansas who’s served his state and country with honor in the Army, Congress, and as CIA Director and Secretary of State,” Reddy said. “It’s an honor to earn his support. I’m looking forward to working with Secretary Pompeo to flip this seat, and then to get things done for Kansans and Americans.”
The race is projected to be competitive, although the district is ranked as likely Democratic, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. The National Republican Congressional Committee considered the seat a prime pickup opportunity last year when it selected it as one of its 37 top targets.
The House Majority PAC, which is fighting to elect Democrats, announced it is placing $800,000 in ad reservations in the district earlier this month.
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Reddy recently received the endorsement of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) last month. Late last year, Reddy received the endorsement of House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
Reddy is a triple-board certified physician in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. He had served as the senior vice president and global head of enterprise oncology at LabCorp starting in 2021, but he stepped down in July 2023 after announcing his candidacy. He is also a veteran and serves as a lieutenant colonel for the Air Force Reserve.
Republicans are seeking to hold on to their very slim majority and expand it in the House of Representatives. Of the 425 seats, 45 are considered competitive, most of which are held by Democrats.