Kansas Congressional candidate changes name to Thomas Jefferson

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Libertarian candidate for a Congressional seat in Kansas has changed his name to Thomas Jefferson.

The U.S. House of Representatives candidate formerly known as Jack Talbert is seeking to unseat Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, in Kansas' 4th District. Pompeo also faces two Democratic opponents, Esau Freeman and Robert Tillman.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Talbert changed his name to Thomas Jefferson recently as a way to pay tribute to his idol and possibly win some votes.

He says when people see the name on the ballot it will make them think about the founding fathers and "whether we have that form of government still."

The Kansas Libertarian Party supports Jefferson's name change, and says it included legal documents proving the switch when it filed his candidacy with the state.