1st District GOP House candidate Jim Barnett, of Emporia, will be in Salina on Thursday to open a campaign office.

According to a news release from Barnett, the event will be at 5:30 p.m. at 115 S. Santa Fe.

Jim Barnett has been a physician for the past 28 years in Emporia and has served in the state Senate since 2000.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A vote to increase the state sales tax apparently has also increased the chances of having a primary challenger in this August’s Republican House races.

Ten of the 18 Republican House members who are seeking re-election after voting for the state sales tax increase have primary challengers, the Lawrence Journal-World reported Monday. Meanwhile, 10 of the 52 House Republicans who voted against the tax increase also have primary opponents, but that is fewer than a fifth of the candidates.

The House voted in May to increase the state’s 5.3 percent sales tax to 6.3 percent, effective July 1. Supporters of the increase, including Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson, said it was necessary to avoid crippling cuts to state services and education.

Smoky Hills Public Television will host a forum Tuesday in Liberal for candidates for the 1st Congressional District seat.

The forum is set for 7 p.m. at Seward County Community College.