Steve Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Watkins
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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, 2019 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Lynn Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Jake LaTurner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Steven Charles Watkins Jr.
September 18, 1976 Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Fong Liu |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS) Harvard University (MPA) |
Steven Charles Watkins Jr. (born September 18, 1976) is an American politician and a former military officer. He served as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 2019 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before becoming a politician, he studied at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), and Harvard University.
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Early Life and Military Service
Steve Watkins was born on September 18, 1976, in Texas. He went to high school in Topeka, Kansas. After high school, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated in 1999.
Watkins completed training at several military schools, including Ranger, Airborne, Sapper, Air Assault, and Pathfinder. He was stationed in Alaska in 2000. In 2004, he served in Afghanistan and reached the rank of captain. He spent five years on active duty with the United States Army.
After his active military service, Watkins worked as a defense contractor in Afghanistan starting in late 2004. He later shared that he had faced health challenges, which led him to seek a more traditional life.
Life as a Dog Musher
While in Alaska, Watkins also became involved in dog sledding. He competed in the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In 2015, he finished the race in 58th place. He also started the race in March 2018 but did not finish that year.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Steve Watkins was elected to represent Kansas's 2nd congressional district. This means he was one of the people who voted on laws in the U.S. government.
Elections
2018 Election
In 2018, Steve Watkins ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. His father helped his campaign by setting up a group to support him. Some local leaders were concerned because Watkins had not voted in Kansas for a long time.
Watkins won the primary election with 26.5% of the votes. This means he was chosen by his party to run in the main election. His family's support group spent a lot of money to help him win.
Before the main election, some news stories questioned parts of Watkins' background. For example, he had claimed to be praised for leadership on Mount Everest after an earthquake, but the person he mentioned said it wasn't true. His campaign called these accusations "fake news."
There were also questions about where Watkins lived. He owned homes in Alaska but not in Kansas. He had also applied for an Alaska payment that is for people who plan to live there permanently. However, he stated that he had returned to Kansas to run for Congress.
The 2018 election was very close and competitive. Watkins debated his opponent, Paul Davis, about important topics like Social Security and immigration. Watkins supported building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Former President Donald Trump also spoke at a rally in Kansas to support Watkins.
On November 6, 2018, Watkins won the election against Paul Davis by a very small difference. He won most counties, but his opponent won the two largest cities, Topeka and Lawrence.
2020 Election
In 2019, some Republican leaders looked for someone to run against Watkins in the next election. They thought he might be a "vulnerable" candidate. State Treasurer Jake LaTurner decided to challenge Watkins for the seat.
On August 4, 2020, Watkins lost the Republican primary election to Jake LaTurner. This meant he would not be able to run for re-election. LaTurner then won the general election in November 2020.
Time in Office
During his time in Congress, Watkins was part of several important committees. These committees help make decisions on different topics.
Committee Assignments
Watkins served on these committees:
- Foreign Affairs
- Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism
- Education & Labor
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment
- Veteran Affairs
- Subcommittee on Technology Modernization
- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
In October 2019, Watkins joined a group of House Republicans who entered a secure meeting room. They were looking for more transparency during a confidential hearing. This action caused a delay in the meeting.
Watkins also spent money on radio ads and mail to communicate with the people he represented. This was to keep them informed about his work.
Voter Registration Questions
In December 2019, questions arose about Watkins' voter registration. The address he listed as his home turned out to be a UPS Store. Local officials investigated whether he had followed state law. Watkins' staff said it was a simple mistake, and Watkins stated he had done nothing wrong. He later stepped down from his congressional committees.
In July 2020, just before a televised debate, officials announced that Watkins was facing charges related to his voter registration. These charges included voting without being qualified and providing false information.
In March 2021, Watkins agreed to a program where the charges would be dropped if he successfully completed it. He said he regretted the error in his paperwork and had no intention to mislead anyone. Since 2021, all charges against him have been dismissed.
Personal Life
Steve Watkins is married to Fong Liu, who is a doctor specializing in women's health.
Images for kids
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Official photo of Steve Watkins
See also
