More than 37,000 Turn Out to Kansas Democratic Presidential Caucuses

37,089 people turned out statewide for tonight's Kansas Democratic Presidential caucuses, shattering expectations by Party officials.

"Kansans across the state braved poor weather conditions to show their enthusiasm for the Democratic Presidential candidates," said Party Chairman Larry Gates. "That speaks volumes for our candidates and for the strength of the Democratic Party in Kansas."

Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village reported the largest turnout, with 2,226 people showing support for the candidates. This almost doubled the statewide caucus turnout in 2004, which stayed around 1,300.

Another 2,218 turned out at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence. Kansas City Kansas Community College boasted 2,202, Robinson Middle School in Wichita had 1,758 and 1,374 showed up at Topeka West High School.

Despite blustery conditions across much of the state, record turnouts were calculated in all 50 state senate district caucus sites, with 58 percent of the caucuses reporting numbers over 500.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the enthusiasm and commitment to country we saw from Kansas voters this evening," Gates said. "We are grateful to have the support of the thousands of people who, despite long waits and crowded buildings, were committed to making their voices heard. We will continue to work hard to earn their votes this November."

Participation in Democratic caucuses and primaries across the country continued the trend of record breaking turnouts from earlier contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
 

Obama Wins Majority of Congressional District Delegates in Kansas

With 100 percent of Kansas Democratic Presidential caucuses reporting, Sen. Barack Obama won 313 of Kansas' 436 Congressional District delegates. The remaining 123 went to Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Congressional District delegates will travel to their respective Congressional District Conventions, to be held on April 12, 2008.

More than 37,000 Kansans turned out for the Democratic Presidential caucuses. Unofficial totals showed 73 percent of Kansans caucused for Obama and 25 percent caucused for Clinton.

Tonight's results will eventually determine the allocation of 32 of Kansas' national delegates at the Democratic National Convention in August. Unofficial tallies show Obama capturing 23 of the pledged national delegates and Clinton taking the remaining nine pledged national delegates.

Twenty-one of these national delegates will be confirmed at the Congressional District conventions in April, and the remaining 11 national delegates will be confirmed at the Kansas Democratic Party State Convention on May 17, 2008.