Good morning everyone:
No shortage of Kansas political news from Tuesday.
New campaign endorsements, a televised debate between secretary of state candidates, a visit from the transportation secretary and a lawsuit brought over transgender birth certificates.
Let’s dig in right in:
Paul Ryan’s coming to town
House Speaker Paul Ryan is going on a tour in 25 states to support 25 vulnerable candidates, including Republican Congressman Kevin Yoder. Ryan is reportedly set to visit Mission Hills for a fundraiser for Yoder on Tuesday, Oct. 23.
Of course, the super political action committee affiliated with Ryan – the Congressional Leadership Fund – is dumping millions into the 3rd District to help Yoder turn back a strong challenge from Democrat Sharice Davids.
Meanwhile, the New York Times and Siena college are repolling the 3rd District race after make a pass through the district several weeks ago. In the first poll, the Times/Siena college poll found Davids with up eight percentage points.
Yoder is not doing much better in the new poll – so far. With just 264 people surveyed, Davids is up 50 percent to 37 percent on Yoder with 10 percent undecided. The margin of error is plus or minus 6. Of course, the poll is not done. Stay tuned.
For his part, Yoder told reporters on Monday he still believes he’s in a very tough struggle against the Democratic upstart.
“We’re fighting as if we’re the underdog. We’re fighting as if we’re one point down every day,” Yoder said.
“We’re gaining a lot of momentum. We feel good about where we are. We’re gaining supporters every day. I think we’re going to finish very strong in this race,” he said.
Transgender birth certificates
A national LGBT rights group on Monday went to federal court to challenge a Kansas policy preventing people from changing the gender designation on their birth certificates.
Lamba Legal, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of four transgender people, contends that the policy violates constitutional guarantees of privacy, equal protection and freedom of expression.
Lamba Legal says Kansas is just one of three states – in addition to Tennessee and Ohio – with this type of policy.
Here’s the group’s news release announcing the lawsuit, the complaint and coverage from the Capital Journal and The Associated Press via the Lawrence Journal World and KSNT in Topeka. Also this story from Fox 4 in Kansas City.
Two DUIs in less than three years
The Kansas City Star revealed on Monday that Democratic House candidate Brandon Woodard had been arrested twice for driving under the influence from 2012 to 2014.
Woodard was apparently open with the newspaper about the first DUI arrest when he announced his candidacy last fall for the District 30 seat now held by outgoing Republican state Rep. Randy Powell of Olathe.
Woodard apparently said nothing about the second offense when he first interviewed with the newspaper about his candidacy. His explanation: The reporter only asked him about the first offense.
Woodard received diversion for the first offense, but on the second was sentenced to 180 days in jail. The Star reports that he served five days and was put on probation for two years.
Woodard is running against Republican Wendy Bingesser in the general election.
New Kelly endorsement
The Kansas State Fraternal Order of Police on Monday announced its support for Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly in the Kansas governor’s race.
“Other candidates may talk about being tough on crime, but no one has been a better friend to law enforcement officers than Laura Kelly,” Kansas State FOP President Blaine Dryden said in a statement.
“She has sponsored and supported key legislation protecting law enforcement officers’ workplace rights and supported tougher penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers,” he said in his statement. “Laura doesn’t just talk about supporting us – she follows through with action.
Graves, Meyers back Yoder in congressional race
Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves and an array of prominent moderate Republicans came out in support of Congressman Kevin Yoder in his election battle against Democrat Sharice Davids.
Among those on the list joining Graves were former Congresswoman Jan Meyers, Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach, Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm, Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn, state Sen. John Skubal, former state Sens. Terrie Huntington and Kay Wolf and state Reps. Jan Kessinger and Patty Markley.
“Congressman Yoder is a tireless advocate for our community and a leader on the issues that unify Americans across the political spectrum,” Graves and Meyers said in a joint statement.
“He knows what is most important to families in our community because his life’s work has been public service in Kansas.”
