State Sen. Barbara Bollier (D), one of four Kansas legislators who made headlines last year by defecting from the Republican Party, is running for the U.S. Senate as a “pragmatic” Democrat, CBS News reports.
Internal Poll Shows Democrat Leading for Kansas Senate
Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) trails Barry Grissom (D) by 10 percentage points in a head-to-head matchup for Kansas’ open Senate seat in 2020, according to internal GOP polling data reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
“The previously unpublished findings reveal why some Republicans are deeply concerned that a Kobach candidacy could cost the party a Senate seat in Kansas—and why Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been pushing so hard for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former congressman from Wichita, to challenge Mr. Kobach for the GOP nomination.”
Pompeo Keeps Ducking Questions About Senate Race
“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continued to deflect questions Sunday about his political future, declining to swear off a run for the Senate from his home state of Kansas next year,” the Washington Post reports.
“Pompeo, who represented the southern portion of central Kansas for six years in the House before joining President Trump’s Cabinet, has been Senate Republican leaders’ top choice to replace retiring Sen. Pat Roberts (R). They believe he could clear the GOP field and easily win the general election.”
Pompeo Shuts Door on Senate Run
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Washington Examiner that he will not run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Kansas next year.
Said Pompeo: “I am going to stay here. There’s lots of people talking about it. The only one who’s not talking about it is me.”
GOP Donors Told to Wait as Pompeo Mulls Senate Bid
“Republican political donors have been told to hold off contributing to the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Kansas in the expectation that Secretary of State Michael Pompeo may decide to run,” Bloomberg reports.
“A Pompeo ally has been advising potential contributors to wait until after the secretary of state makes his decision, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a private message communicated to donors. The top U.S. diplomat and former CIA director, who served as a congressman in Kansas’s 4th district from 2011-2017, has until June to enter the race.”
Kobach Uses Border Wall Group to Fund Senate Bid
“Kris Kobach is using a nonprofit group he advises to raise money for his U.S. Senate campaign, and legal experts say one recent fundraising push likely ran afoul of federal campaign finance laws,” the Daily Beast reports.
“On Thursday, Kobach sent a fundraising appeal to an email list maintained by We Build The Wall, a 501(c)(4) advocacy group currently attempting to build a wall on the southern border using private funds. Kobach is on the group’s advisory board and serves as its general counsel.”
Pompeo Won’t Run for Senate
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared to close the door to a potential run in 2020 for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas saying it was “off the table,” but he did not rule out the possibility of a presidential run in the future, Reuters reports.
Said Pompeo: “It’s off the table. As a practical matter, I’m going to serve as secretary of state every day that I get the chance to do so.”
Pompeo Now Won’t Rule Out Senate Bid
“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday signaled that he is open to considering a run for an open Senate seat in Kansas, months after he declared that he had ruled out a bid,” the Washington Post reports.
Sebelius Won’t Run for Senate In Kansas
Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), who served as Health and Human Services secretary in the Obama administration, confirmed to Politico that she will not be jumping into the race for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by retiring Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS).
Kobach Will Run for Senate In Kansas
Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) announced he is running for the U.S. Senate next year, the Wichita Eagle reports.
He is seeking the seat of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), who announced he is not seeking re-election in 2020.
The Kansas City Star reports Kobach misspelled his own name on the forms filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Kobach Calls Meeting of Supporters
“Kris Kobach is telling supporters to gather in Leavenworth Monday afternoon, fueling speculation that he could be preparing a run for the U.S. Senate,” McClatchy reports.
“The former Kansas secretary of state has hinted at his interest in retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat for months, but he could face opposition from national Republican groups if he enters the race.”
Schumer Talks to Party Switcher About Kansas Seat
Kansas State Sen. Barbara Bollier (D), who switched parties last year, sat down with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer this week to discuss a possible run for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, McClatchy reports.
Bollier discussed the open Senate seat, created by the retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, during a trip to Washington, D.C.
Pompeo Still Weighing Senate Bid
Politico: “Mike Pompeo is the GOP’s best shot at keeping a must-win Senate seat in Republican hands. But he’s also the most stable national security voice in an administration that’s constantly on the verge of cracking up — setting up a high-stakes dilemma for the secretary of State and his party.”
“Pompeo said in February that he had ‘ruled out’ a Senate run in 2020 but several of his confidants say that is simply not the case and that he is quietly evaluating the next steps in his political career.”
National Republicans Will Try to Stop Kobach
“National Republicans are prepared to intervene in the Kansas Senate primary to ensure that conservative firebrand Kris Kobach does not win the party’s nomination should he run,” the Kansas City Star reports.
“Kobach said last week that he is still ‘actively considering’ a bid for the U.S. Senate next year in Kansas. The seat will come open with the retirement of Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who announced in January that he would not run for re-election.”
Mike Pompeo Opens Door to Future Run
Wichita Eagle: “He’s ruled out a U.S. Senate run in 2020. But on the eve of Pompeo’s first official visit to Kansas since his meteoric rise from congressman to secretary of state, the Wichita Republican propped open the door to a political future in his home state.”
Said Pompeo: “I try to just avoid ruling things out when there’s others who are in control. The Lord will get me to the right place.”
“Republicans in the state think that means one of two things — a bid for Senate or the governor’s mansion in 2022. That is, if Pompeo doesn’t decide to run for president in 2024 instead.”
White House Sours on Kris Kobach
“Republican hardliner Kris Kobach’s inner circle is hinting that he has President Trump’s support for either a Senate run or Cabinet position,” McClatchy reports.
“They’re wrong.”
“White House officials have grown frustrated enough with the narrative being pushed by the Kobach camp that a senior administration official took the rare step of trying to squash the speculation.”
Pompeo Rules Out Senate Bid
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told NBC News he would not run for U.S. Senate from Kansas.
Said Pompeo: “It’s ruled out. I’m here. I’m loving it… I’m going to be the Secretary of State as long as President Trump gives me the opportunity to serve as America’s senior diplomat.”
Trump Says Pompeo Won’t Run for Senate
“President Trump has dismissed the prospect of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaving his post to run for a Senate seat, even as Pompeo has signaled that he is open to the possibility,” the Washington Post reports.
Trump said Pompeo told him he was not leaving his current position and voiced confidence that he would not bolt to pursue a Senate seat in Kansas: “I asked him the question the other day. He says he’s absolutely not leaving. I don’t think he’d do that. And he doesn’t want to be lame duck.”
In a phone call with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell last month, Pompeo “had not shut the door on the possibility of a run.”
