By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly’s political action committee endorsed about 80 Democratic candidates for the House and Senate on Tuesday as Republicans took the opportunity to push back against maneuvering by Democrats to break the GOP’s veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers.
The Middle of the Road PAC, which raised about $1 million and carried a name linked to Kelly’s campaign pledge to lead from the middle, said the 65 House candidates and 16 Senate candidates on the latest endorsement list were “moderate, middle-of-the-road leaders who are laser-focused on common-sense policies that improve the lives of all Kansans.”
“Kansans want leaders who will put politics aside and do what’s in the best interest of the people they represent – like funding our schools, responsibly cutting taxes and stopping divisive legislation that harms Kansans,” Kelly said.
The Democratic governor said individuals endorsed by her PAC were qualified to serve in the Legislature and committed to placing partisan politics aside to “do right by Kansas families.”
Kelly said the latest installment of endorsements incorporated preferences made public before the August primary election. In July, she recommended four candidates. The governor chose not to endorse all Democrats who placed their name on August and November ballots in legislative contests.
House Majority Leader Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, said the PAC’s endorsements authorized by Kelly reflected a Democratic Party that was out of touch with mainstream Kansans.
In a statement, he said Democrats were incapable of fixing federal tax and economic issues tied to policies of President Joe Biden.
“Sadly, these endorsements further prove that bipartisanship is nothing more than a bumper sticker to them,” Croft said.
Rep. Avery Anderson, a Newton Republican and chairman of the Republican House Campaign Committee, said candidates endorsed by Kelly were “super liberals.” He said at least some candidates backed by Kelly supported renewable energy provisions of the Green New Deal, expansion of Medicare eligibility and, without evidence, “defunding the police.”
The campaign committee’s statement indicated the House GOP would roll out negative details about Democratic candidates closer to the Nov. 5 election.
The outcome of contested legislative races will determine whether Kelly no longer had to deal with the two-thirds majorities held by Republicans in the House and Senate. Currently, the GOP has votes to override vetoes by Kelly strictly on partisan lines. If Democrats pick up a couple seats in the House and several in the Senate it would strengthen the governor’s hand during her final two years in office.
In Kansas, Oct. 15 is the deadline to register to vote in the November general election. Advance voting starts Oct. 16, and in-person advance voting ends at noon Nov. 4. The final day to request a mail ballot is Oct. 29.
Correction: Rep. Avery Anderson is a Newton Republican. An earlier version of this story identified him with the wrong town.
Launched in July 2020, Kansas Reflector is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. Kansas Reflector retains full editorial independence.
