Stockton Mayor, and Nicodemus descendant, Kim Thomas, fell short in her bid for the 110th district of the Kansas House of Representatives. She had run on the Democratic nomination against incumbent Rep. Ken Rahjes, in a heavy Republican district. The final tally was 6,287 votes for Rahjes, and 1,994 votes for Thomas.
In a statement Kim said: "Thank you to all who voted today and the ones that worked on my campaign. Thank you for so much - God bless"
"Thank you to all who voted today and the ones that worked on my campaign. Thank you for so much - God bless"
Thomas is a 5th generation Nicodemus descendant, and has served as mayor of neighboring Stockton, KS since 2002. She is the first African-American woman to be elected mayor in Kansas, was named Kansas mayor of the year in 2014, and became president of the Kansas League of Municipalities in 2016.
Thomas' run in elective office carries on a long history of Nicodemus descendants in public service, the most notable of which, Edward P. McCabe, served as state auditor of Kansas from 1883 to 1887. McCabe was the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in Kansas, and his portrait hangs in the Capitol near the governors office.
Despite yesterday's election defeat, Kim Thomas has made Nicodemus proud.