Republican state Sen. J.R. Claeys has accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in President Donald Trump’s administration.
In a letter to Senate President Ty Masterson, the Salina senator said he had accepted an appointment from the president and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Starting Monday, Claeys said he will lead the rural business service at the agency.
The service provides financial assistance, technical support and resources to help rural businesses expand, become more competitive and promote community development.
Among other things, the rural business service provides grant money to assist with economic development planning or the financing or expansion of rural businesses.
It also offers loan guarantees to lenders for their loans to rural businesses.
Claeys did not outright resign his Senate position, but under the Kansas Constitution his acceptance of the job disqualifies him from serving in the Legislature.
The state constitution bars any employee of the United States government from serving as a member of the Legislature.
Claeys’ departure from the Legislature had been anticipated for some time.
Last month, Claeys left his positions as a senior adviser to Attorney General Kris Kobach and as a political consultant for Axiom Strategies.
Claeys, a former House member who was elected to the Senate in 2020, had worked as a campaign consultant for Kobach during his successful campaign for attorney general in 2022.
Claeys guided Kobach’s political comeback after the candidate lost a bid for governor just four years earlier to Democrat Laura Kelly.
Claeys worked on Trump’s reelection campaign in Nebraska and Iowa during the 2020 election cycle.
As a political consultant, Claeys also helped Republican Steven Johnson win his race for state treasurer in 2022.
Claeys had served in the Kansas House since 2012 before running for the Kansas Senate in 2020 where he played a key role as vice chair on the Senate budget-writing committee.
