Kansas Republican Adam Thomas would normally be an ideal case for prosecution by Kris Kobach. Filed to vote in a district he doesn’t live in, admits he doesn’t live there. Thomas, in an admission made to the Capital Journal, acknowledges that he registered to vote at a location he doesn’t live at — and doesn’t really intend to return to, though he will move into the district he is planning to serve on July 5. Got it?
In fact, the candidate's paperwork was so sloppy, he listed his REAL address in his finance filings, outside of the district, while leaving behind a landlord at his supposed address who doesn’t know who he is:
The Capital Journal:
He provided evidence showing Thomas registered to vote with a new Olathe address a day before the filing deadline. The landlord at the new address signed an affidavit saying the candidate doesn’t actually live there. When she performed an inspection on Monday, Miller said, the landlord found no evidence of Thomas, his wife or their children. Additionally, Thomas’ campaign finance reports list a different Olathe address.
Democrats are watching both houses, Miller said.
Responding to the claim, Adam Thomas offered this explanation:
In a statement issued late Tuesday, Thomas said he and his wife have purchased a home in the district he hopes to serve but won’t take possession of the new residence until July 5. With the couple are expecting a fifth child, he said, his family outgrew the previous home.
“Having many friends in the area, they encouraged me to run for state representative as I share their values and the values of families in District 26,” Thomas said. “Given the baseless attack of my opponent and her lagging support, it is clear that she does not share our south Olathe and Spring Hill values.”
Unsourced by the Capital Journal, but part of his campaign statement, published by Hawver News included this pushback:
Thomas, in a campaign statement, said he's the subject of "Chicago-style Democratic politics”.
No specific guidance on whether that means deep dish or what, exactly, but it definitely implies that Democratic elected and activists are, you know, being mean to the man who committed voter fraud.
No matter how you slice it, there are major problems with Adam Thomas’ statement. Thomas, who is in the middle of buying a house, obviously knew he did not live at the address where he filed to vote and run for office. Under the law, you must reside somewhere with an “intent to return” this implies that you have slept there, lived there, or otherwise, and plan to go back.
With a landlord who has never seen Thomas, as well as Thomas himself acknowledging he doesn’t live there, as he waits on another house inside of the district, Thomas finds himself afoul of the basic standard: he declared a residence where no one has seen him, you know, reside. Now, Thomas is making the next step, yeah, he won’t ever reside there; his family is too big for where they live now (outside of the district) let alone a small apartment, but it’s OK, they will move into the district on July 5 — more than a month after he declared a non-existent residency.
No word yet on if Kobach plans to investigate voter fraud charges.