House Majority Leader Chris Croft said Thursday morning that he doesn’t plan to run for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District.
The Overland Park Republican said he’s committed to remaining in the House and preserving the chamber’s GOP supermajority this fall.
“I am 100% committed to serving as representative for the 8th District and leading the Kansas House Republican caucus as majority leader,” Croft said in a text Thursday morning.
“I will continue working to deliver tax relief for Kansans, protect our state from foreign adversaries, and pass common sense legislation to improve our state,” he said.
“I will continue working to deliver tax relief for Kansans, protect our state from foreign adversaries, and pass common sense legislation to improve our state.”
Croft’s decision not to run comes with former Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt expected by many to run for the 2nd District Congressional seat.
Schmidt is expected to announce his plans about running by the end of the week.
Croft is the second person this week who has ruled out running for the congressional seat that came open with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner’s decision not to run for a third term.
Outgoing Republican National Committeewoman Kim Borchers, too, has said she would not run for the seat.
Croft said he can best serve Republicans in the Capitol.
“With Governor Kelly in office, our GOP legislature faces the threat of the veto pen on every piece of common sense reform we push forward,” Croft said.
“Yesterday’s veto of bi-partisan tax cuts for every Kansan was just another example of the roadblocks to progress we face.
“I’m committed to redoubling my efforts to protect our super majority in the Kansas House so we can continue to deliver real results for the people of Kansas.”
Three years ago, Croft considered running in the 3rd District. Politico reported Croft’s interest in running for Congress when it disclosed that he was among a group of veterans who Republicans were recruiting to run for a seat on Capitol Hill.
Republicans were hoping that veterans would help make the party more appealing heading into the 2022 elections.
At one point, Croft met with National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer to talk over the possibility of running.
