Next year’s race to succeed termed-out GOP Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is only slowly coming together. So far, no notable candidates on either party have jumped in. Ex-GOP state Rep. and non-profit head Ed O’Malley has formed an exploratory committee, but he’s been out of office for 10 years and probably won’t be intimidating anyone. The Wichita Eagle takes a detailed look at the many Republicans who could run here. A few Democrats are also considering getting in: While a Democratic win is tough in a state this red, Brownback’s massive tax cuts have severely damaged the state economy and left him with a horrible approval rating, and Team Blue may have an opening in 2018.
On the GOP side, three statewide figures have been mentioned as possible contenders. The most infamous potential candidate is Secretary of State Kris Kobach, an ally of Donald Trump. Among many other things, Kobach is notorious for conducting mass purges of Kansas’s voter rolls and trying to implement onerous proof-of-citizenship requirements. Kobach’s spokesperson acknowledged that he’s “considering the gubernatorial race along with many other possibilities.” Kobach has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Topeka-based 2nd District, which is being vacated by retiring GOP Rep. Lynn Jenkins; it’s unclear if this is one of the “many other possibilities” that Kobach is considering.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt says he plans to run for something in 2018 and said he hasn’t ruled out seeking the governorship. Schmidt could also seek a third term or run Congress in the 2nd District, though he doesn’t appear to have said anything about a possible House bid. The Eagle says that, unlike Kobach, Schmidt has focused on far-less partisan causes while in office like fighting human trafficking. That could help Schmidt in a general election, but fire-breathing GOP voters may prefer more like Kobach in a primary.
Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer is also a potential gubernatorial candidate, and all his office would say is that he “has not even considered.” (Yeah, sure.) Colyer was Brownback’s running mate in 2010 and 2014, and he may be the easiest Republican to tie to the outgoing governor. In early 2015, a grand jury began looking into three loans from the wealthy Colyer to Brownback’s campaign that added up to $1.5 million: The U.S. attorney announced that there would be no charges a few months later, but it’s possible this matter could come up again on the campaign trail.
There are a few other Republicans who could get in. State Senate President Susan Wagle put out a statement saying she was focused on her current job, which rules nothing out. The Eagle also says that Rep. Kevin Yoder is “considering his options,” though there’s no other information. Sen. Jerry Moran was also name-dropped, but there’s no sign that he’s interested.
Kansas has a small Democratic bench, but two local politicians are considering. Ex-state House Minority Leader Paul Davis was Team Blue’s nominee in 2014 and lost to Brownback 50-46, and he says he’s talking “with a variety of people” about what he’ll do next year. Davis added that he’ll wait until the end of the legislative session, which is set to conclude May 15, before deciding. Davis has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, which he carried 51-45 against Brownback, though he also doesn’t seem to have said anything about that race.
Ex-Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who served until 2015, also is considering a gubernatorial run. Brewer says he’s had meetings about a possible bid for the Democratic nod, though he says he doesn’t have a timeline for when he’ll decide. If he wins, Brewer will become Kansas's first African-American governor.
Finally, one notable independent is making noises about getting in. Greg Orman, who lost the 2014 Senate race to GOP Sen. Pat Roberts 53-43, said he hasn’t decided on anything, but believes there’s an opening for an independent. Orman became the de facto Democratic Senate candidate in 2014 after Team Blue’s nominee dropped out and if Orman runs for governor, there’s a good chance he’ll disproportionately hurt the Democratic candidate.