(Updated with more reporting including comments from the Wagle, Lindstrom, Marshall and Kobach campaigns as well as Kuckelman comments to Republicans in a video conference call. Update also includes edits throughout.)
Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Kuckelman is asking Republican candidates David Lindstrom and Senate President Susan Wagle to bow out of the U.S. Senate race.
In letters sent to both candidates and dated April 23, Kuckelman tells Wagle and Lindstrom there is no way for them to win the Senate race based on fundraising and polling data.
Both have been trailing Congressman Roger Marshall and former Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who have a larger political presence in the state and are polling significantly better than Wagle or Lindstrom.
Kuckelman asked Lindstrom and Wagle to end their campaigns so Republicans can get behind one candidate who will keep the Senate seat in Republican hands and help down-ballot candidates as well.
“There is no doubt, you would be an excellent U.S. Senator,” Kuckelman said in a letter to Lindstrom.
“However, based on the polling and fundraising data, there is simply no path to victory for your campaign.
“In order for Republicans to protect the U.S. Senate seat, it is time to clear the field for a candidate that has a path to victory against the Democrats,” the letter said.
The letters sent to Lindstrom and Wagle are about the same except for the problems it details about each campaign.
Kuckelman’s letter to Wagle notes that the Senate president has about $518,000 in her campaign account, including $275,000 that she loaned the campaign.
Kuckelman points out that she has $240,128 on hand from supporters and in nine months she has received donations from supporters of only $453,481.
Like the Lindstrom letter, Kuckelman notes that polling and fundraising “clearly display” that she can’t win the race.
Kuckelman points out to Lindstrom that he has only $266,000 cash on hand, including $140,000 in loans to his campaign.
“In nine months, you have received donations from supporters of only $453,487,” the letter states.
Wagle spokesman Matt Beynon said Kuckelman has had it in for her from the outset of the campaign.
“Private conversations with Mike Kuckleman over the past year have made it clear he’s been opposed to Susan’s campaign from the start, and today, he simply put that on paper,” Beynon said in an email.
“Others can speculate on his motives, but it may be as simple as he doesn’t support strong, pro-life conservative women,” Beynon said.
Lindstrom’s campaign chairman, Dave Owen, called Kuckelman’s letter disingenuous because it was dated today and found its way into the hands of reporters before it had been seen by the candidate.
“It was kind of a blindside for Dave,” Owen said in an interview.
“I’ve been state party chairman,” Owen said. “I’ve never heard of a chairman trying to force somebody out who was a qualified candidate. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work.”
Owen said Lindstrom’s internal polling shows a clear path for the candidate. “We’ve obviously got some challenges, but there’s no way he’s getting out of the race.”
Republican Party executive director Shannon Golden said Overland Park plumber Bob Hamilton would likely be approached about dropping out soon.
Hamilton put $2 million into his Senate campaign after announcing his candidacy about three weeks ago.
“His name ID is weak. He came in late. We don’t see a path forward for him,” Golden said. “So that conversation will happen soon.”
Golden said the party focused on the two candidates who potentially could influence the outcome of the Republican primary but were unlikely to win.
Kuckelman’s move comes amid fears that Republicans could lose a seat to Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, who is pilling up money by the millions.
There is a fear that a splintered Republican field – now totaling seven candidates – could lead to Kobach winning the primary and ultimately losing to Bollier in the general election.
National Republicans have been cool to Kobach’s Senate candidacy, fearing that he could lose the Senate race after losing the governor’s race to Laura Kelly in 2018.
Kobach responded sharply to Kuckelman’s request.
“Grassroots Republicans should be outraged,” Kobach said in a statement.
“Our next Senator will be chosen by the people of Kansas – not the party elites. The chairman’s attempted intervention into the GOP primary is inappropriate.”
But one influential Kansas Republican said Kuckelman was right to try to unclog the Republican field.
“This is a reasonable request,” the source said.
“These are unusual times and Kobach absolutely, unequivocally puts the seat at risk,” the source said.
Getting Lindstrom and Wagle out of the race, would still leave a five-candidate field that includes Kobach, Hamilton, Congressman Marshall, Kansas Board of Education member Steve Roberts and self-described Republican socialist Brian Matlock.
“As we’ve said for months, this is a two-man race,” Marshall campaign manager Eric Pahls said.
“The last thing Kobach wants is a one-on-one race with Dr. Marshall,” Pahls said. “While we can’t control what others do, we can keep working harder than anyone, and focusing on what has worked for us: talking to Kansans about what matters to them,” he said.
In a video conference with Republicans on Monday night, Kuckelman was asked what he was doing to bring the party together to support its nominee.
The Senate race wasn’t mentioned, but Kuckelman foreshadowed his action, saying he would ask candidates to reconsider going forward if they are lagging behind.
He told Republicans that he monitored fundraising and polling.
“I told people from the start that I will talk to candidates who are underperforming in my view and ask them to consider the party, our state, our country ahead of themselves,” he said.
“At some point, every candidate must re-evaluate whether they should be in a race or not,” he said.
“If they can’t win the race, they potentially change the outcome of the race, they make the race more difficult. We can’t do that.”
He conceded asking candidates to back out could bruise feelings, but he said there was larger objective at stake.
“We always, always, always have to put our party first, our state first and our country first,” he said.
“We can’t allow personalities and egos and feelings to interefere with doing what’s best in terms of an election.”
