Kansas House Republicans have hired former Singularis partner Jared Suhn as their new political strategist going into the 2020 elections.
Leadership on the Republican House Campaign Committee picked Suhn from six firms or individuals seeking the consulting work.
Suhn is a longtime Kansas operative who has worked for conservative candidates, including former Gov. Sam Brownback’s re-election campaign.
Suhn recently left the Singularis Group, which he built up into a successful conservative political consulting firm with Kris Van Meteren.
He’s now working for Republican Sara Hart Weir’s congressional campaign in the Kansas 3rd District. He also serves in an advisory role for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran.
Other clients have included U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Josh Hawley when he ran for attorney general in Missouri, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts.
Suhn was selected for the inaugural class of the American Association of Political Consultants 40 Under 40 Award – joining the ranks of only 15 Republicans nationwide named for the honor.
State Rep. Chris Croft, who chairs the committee, praised all the applicants but said Suhn stood out because of the personal attention he wants to devote to the candidates and the emphasis he placed on fundraising.
“They all did a great job. It was a really hard decision,” he said. “I think we would be successful with anyone that we picked.”
Croft left open the possibility that RHCC could turn to any of the other applicants for their services if they’re needed.
He said each of the teams that bid on the consulting work has unique skills that can be used as election season starts unfolding.
House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins said he was eager to go to work protecting the House’s majority.
“House Republicans are united heading into 2020,” Hawkins said in a statement. “I’m excited to work with the RHCC board and Mr. Suhn to retain our super majority.”
The House now has 84 Republicans, just enough to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, although the GOP had trouble last session mustering enough votes to override vetoes of a tax bill and an abortion bill.
The RHCC ended 2019 with $69,891 in the bank. Meanwhile, Kansans for a Democratic House finished the year with $50,157 on hand.
The other five firms that bid on the work for the RHCC were:
Creative Direct, a nationally recognized mail and voter-contact firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Travis Smith, a former political operative at Axiom Strategies in Kansas City, is partner at the firm. Smith, a chief of staff for former Congressman Kevin Yoder, worked for the RHCC last year when he was at Axiom.
Singularis, the Overland Park firm led by Van Meteren has worked on an array of campaigns for conservative candidates. Its clients have included the Kansas State Rifle Association, the House Majority Leader’s Office and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee.
Axiom Strategies, a Kansas City-based firm founded in 2006 by Jeff Roe, a former aide to Republican Missouri Congressman Sam Graves. Working to elect conservative candidates, the firm has grown into national prominence working on several presidential campaigns. Boasting a win rate of 83%, Axiom has 90 full-time employees and offers a broad menu of political consulting and communications services.
Majority Strategies, a Jacksonville, Florida, firm has worked with more than 27 current and former governors, and 170 sitting and former members of Congress, including former Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner. It also worked with 51 sitting or former U.S. senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
American Mail Group, a Nashville company headed by Josh Thomas, the firm’s president. The company is now running Republican Eddie Rispone’s campaign in the Louisiana governor’s race and an independent expenditure campaign for Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin. Thomas previously worked as the political director of the Kentucky Republican Party, political director for the North Carolina House Republican caucus and campaign director for the Tennessee House Republican caucus.
The panel of lawmakers leading the RHCC are Reps. Troy Waymaster (vice chairman), Fred Patton (secretary), Leo Delperdang (treasurer), Susan Concannon, Steven Johnson, Doug Blex, Ron Ellis, Kellie Warren, Jene Vickrey, Renee Erickson and Emil Bergquist.
