(Updated to include reaction from Sarnecki and Schmidt)
Fresh from securing the endorsement of President Donald Trump, Senate President Ty Masterson on Friday won support from Kansans for Life’s political action committee in the Republican primary for governor.
Masterson won KFL’s backing over Johnson County businessman Philip Sarnecki, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara and Wichita businesswoman Stacy Rogers.
The endorsement was striking for Sarnecki, whose campaign treasurer is Julia Samaniego, who also was the treasurer for the Value Them Both campaign for a constitutional amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the state constitution.
Masterson “has built a rock-solid pro-life record while serving in the Legislature,”said Larry Damm, chair of KFL’s political action committee, adding that his running mate, Sen. Jeff Klemp, has a 100% voting record with KFL.
“With President Trump’s endorsement, the Masterson-Klemp ticket presents pro-life voters with a clear opportunity to rally behind proven pro-life leadership, and unite our votes, rather than dilute them,” he said.
Sarnecki stood by his abortion record.
“I am 100% pro-life and have supported Kansans for Life for years. The simple fact is that under Ty Masterson, Kansas has become one of the most pro-abortion states in the country,” he said in a statement.
“Ty Masterson and the career politicians have failed. We need new leadership. As Governor, I’ll fight to protect the unborn and create a culture of life in Kansas,” he said.
Since 2023, Masterson led the Senate in overriding more than 15 vetoes from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, “advancing some of the strongest pro-life protections in Kansas history,” the PAC said.
KFL has long been concerned that a crowded conservative field could leave a path for Schmidt to squeeze through the primary with support from moderate Republicans.
At one point last year, KFL’s political action committee set up a website dedicated to the opposition of Schmidt.
The PAC’s website compared Schmidt – a state senator from 2005 to 2018 – to Kelly and the 10 abortion bills that each voted against.
“While other pro-life candidates are also running for governor in the Republican Primary, the frightening scenario of radical pro-abortion Vicki Schmidt slipping through a crowded race to claim an unearned victory is too great to ignore,” Damm said in the statement.
“After a vigorous vetting process including discussion with most of the candidates and much prayer among our committee, we acknowledge that many of the others seeking the Republican nomination for governor are truly pro-life,” Damm said.
“That said, we feel it to be imperative to unite pro-life voters behind a single candidate to protect the lives of the preborn, their mothers and families.”
Schmidt’s spokesperson responded Friday.
“Vicki Schmidt doesn’t believe in abortion on demand, but she does believe in reasonable exceptions, and that’s where most Kansans are,” Mandy Roe said.
The PAC acknowledged in a statement the pro-life records of the other Republican candidates in the race.
“Scott Schwab and Ken Rahjes have pro-life voting records, Philip Sarnecki and Joy Eakins both articulate the pro-life message well and have supported pro-life causes, Charlotte O’Hara and Michelle Dombrosky have pro-life records and strong pro-life community ties, and Stacy Rogers has campaigned on a pro-life platform.”
