(Developing: Will be updated as warranted).
With the primary election a little more than a week away, former President Donald Trump came out in support of former Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the race for the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
Trump released the endorsement on his media platform, Truth Social, late Friday afternoon. He endorsed Schmidt in the 2022 governor’s race.
“Derek Schmidt was a fantastic attorney general of Kansas, a state I love and won by large margins in 2016 and 2020!” Trump posted.
“An America First Patriot and a true friend of MAGA, Derek is now running for Congress, where he will work tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Secure the Border, Uphold the Rule of Law, Support our Veterans, Strengthen our Military, Defend our always under siege Second Amendment, and Champion our Incredible Farmers and Ranchers,” he wrote.
“Derek Schmidt has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!
In turn, Schmidt praised Trump, crediting for him for uniting the Republican Party in what he called a “historic movement to put America First.”
“His strength under adversity like we saw this month in Pennsylvania is exactly what we need to get America running again,” Schmidt said in a statement.
“We will secure our border, make daily life more affordable for families, and stop federal bureaucrats from overregulating our lives. I am excited to work with President Trump to Make America Great Again.
In December 2021, Schmidt signed onto a brief with 16 other states in support of an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking to throw out the results of the presidential election.
Kansas along with Missouri filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court that drew sharp criticism from Democrats who described it as an “embarrassment” to the state.
The brief was filed in support of a lawsuit brought by Texas against four battleground states — Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — that decided the election in favor of President Joe Biden.
The lawsuit was generally regarded as a legal Hail Mary, taking the rare step of asking the Supreme Curt to directly take up the matter rather than climbing through the appeals process.
Trump’s endorsement has been pivotal in Kansas Republican politics before and could be again, especially since about 71% of GOP primary voters in the 2nd District had a favorable opinion of the former president.
Six years ago, Trump endorsed Kris Kobach in the Republican primary for governor the day before the election.
Kobach prevailed in that primary, something many observers credit to Kobach’s defeat of former Gov. Jeff Colyer in that election.
Schmidt now faces two major candidates in the congressional race, including Jeff Kahrs, a top adviser to outgoing Congressman Jake LaTurner who during the campaign has touted his work in the Trump administration.
Kahrs served in Trump’s administration as the director of Region 7 for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Kansas City, Missouri.
“I support President Trump’s policies and look forward to working with his administration,” Kahrs said in a statement early Friday evening.
Schmidt also faces a robust challenge from former Kansas Livestock Association Shawn Tiffany, who has been running on his conservative credentials during the campaign.
Tiffany did not comment after the announcement.
