Jake LaTurner Bids Farewell to Congress, Prioritizes Family Over Politics

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

TOPEKA — U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner, a Republican from Kansas, gave his final speech in Congress as he prepares to step down in January. He decided not to run for reelection in 2024, choosing to focus on his family.

LaTurner, who previously served in the Kansas Senate and as state treasurer, first won his seat in 2020, replacing GOP Representative Steve Watkins. In April, he announced that the demands of serving in Congress and campaigning every two years had taken a toll on him and his young family. He has four children and wants to spend more time with them.

To my kids, the best title I’ve ever had is ‘Dad,’ and that title is about to get my full attention, LaTurner said during his farewell speech.

In his remarks, LaTurner urged Congress and the White House to approve $300 million for a global health program. The funding would support Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), a nutrient-packed paste that helps save children suffering from severe malnutrition. Made in the U.S. using ingredients like peanuts, dairy, and soy, RUTF costs about $1 per day and has a survival rate of nearly 90% for the children who receive it.

“That funding increase is the right thing to do,” LaTurner said.

Reflecting on his time in Congress, LaTurner shared advice he received from Rep. Don Young, the longest-serving Republican in House history. Young suggested that new members of Congress wait six months before speaking on the House floor to show respect for the institution. LaTurner followed this tradition when he joined in 2021.

He also spoke about the importance of preserving the system of government the Founding Fathers designed, saying it was a duty for all members of Congress.

LaTurner credited his family’s resilience for his success, sharing personal stories about their struggles. His father, a single parent, worked at a Sonic restaurant while putting himself through college and became the first in the family to earn a degree. His grandmother, who dropped out of school due to poverty, later raised six children and earned her G.E.D. to become a nurse. His grandfather, despite losing sight in one eye during the Korean War, worked hard to become a judge.

LaTurner’s great-grandfather, a miner who died young, left behind a widow and six children who endured unimaginable hardships. Despite these challenges, three generations later, LaTurner stood in the U.S. House of Representatives as “the gentleman from Kansas.”

“This is not just my story—it’s the American story,” LaTurner said.

At 36 years old, LaTurner has had a significant political career. He entered the Kansas Senate in 2012, became the state treasurer, and later won his Congressional seat in 2020. Now, he steps away to focus on what matters most: his family.

 

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