In what could be a prelude to announcing a campaign for governor, former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer will be featured at an event this week celebrating President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office of his second term.
A recent nonproft social welfare group called Kansas 1st Inc. is planning the event for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Colyer’s southern Overland Park office.
“We’re on pace for an announcement,” said a Republican source familiar with Colyer’s campaign efforts.
There is speculation that a Colyer announcement could come around the week of Mother’s Day next month.
State records show that Kansas 1st was formed Feb. 5 as 501(c)(4) nonprofit, meaning it doesn’t have to disclose its donors. The directors were appointed April 23.
The records list three directors of the group, including two with ties to Colyer.
One director is Tim Keck, who in 2014-15 served as chief counsel to Colyer when he was lieutenant governor.
Keck also served as secretary for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services in Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration.
Another director is Brant Laue, who served as chief counsel to Colyer as well as Brownback.
State records show that the group was formed to educate “the electorate and legislative bodies on public policy issues including healthcare, market economics, and tax policy in
line with the policies of the Trump/Vance Administration.”
It also said its mission is to “encourage participation in government and political affairs, and promote such other charitable, civic, and educational endeavors as may be permitted” under the federal tax code.
Two years ago in the early stages of the 2024 presidential race, Colyer endorsed Trump for a second term as president, saying he “could be transformative for the health and wellbeing of every American.”
In a column published by Newsweek, Colyer said he met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida where they talked about health challenges facing the country.
“Most people don’t realize how much President Trump did for health care in his first term, but he has a remarkable record,” Colyer said in his column.
“But what is more important is the road ahead. He made it clear he intends to follow through for the American people,” he said.
The Trump event planned for this week comes as the president’s national approval rating slumps in the aftermath of the tariffs the president imposed that shook up the stock market.
A Washington Post poll released over the weekend showed that the president’s overall approval rating is lower than it was only two months ago.
The poll revealed that 39% of adults approve of the way Trump is handling the job, compared with 55% who disapprove.
However, those numbers do not necessarily reflect the president’s popularity within the Republican Party, whose nomination Colyer is trying to secure.
Trump has proven popular in Kansas, winning 57% of the vote in the 2024 general election, 56% of the vote in 2020 and 57% of the vote in 2016.
Seven years ago, Trump endorsed Kris Kobach over Colyer in the Republican primary for governor, less than 24 hours before polls opened on Election Day.
Trump’s endorsement was seen as a tipping point that turned the primary in Kobach’s favor in a race he won by 343 votes.
Similarly last year, a Trump endorsement helped former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt win the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District.
Colyer is now facing opposition from Secretary of State Scott Schwab and most likely Senate President Ty Masterson.
Conservative podcaster Doug Billings, an ardent Trump supporter, has already filed to run for governor along with his running mate, April McCoy.
Former Royals General Manager Dayton Moore also is considering running for governor.
Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and Wichita businesswoman Joy Eakins are also considering a run for governor.
Former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara and Republican businesswoman Stacy Rogers have each appointed treasurers to run for governor but have not officially filed to run for the office.
