Good morning everyone:
It’s less than 48 hours before voters go to the polls in the primary election that has so many people scratching their heads about what will happen.
Will Secretary of State Kris Kobach survive a barrage of bad press in the last week to win the GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday?
How will Josh Svaty do in the Democratic primary with his no-television campaign strategy?
Just who will emerge from the congested 2nd Congressional District Republican primary where Army veteran Steve Watkins and his dad’s political action committee are spending hundreds of thousands to win the primary?
And what Democrat will win the primary in the 3rd District and likely face Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder, who has some nominal primary opposition.
The latest data from the secretary of state’s office showed that as of Saturday, 82,490 voters had cast ballots compared to 55,980 in 2014 (last governor’s race) and 66,715 in 2016.
This year is so different because of the number of wide-open races and the first substantially competitive Democratic primary for governor in 24 years.
Let’s catch up on what’s been in the news and what’s fresh this weekend in Kansas politics.
Welder poll
Late Saturday, Bonner Springs labor lawyer Brent Welder released the results of a poll showing him with an overwhelming lead in the Democratic primary in the 3rd District.
The poll, done on behalf of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee by Public Policy Polling, showed Welder with 35 percent of the vote going into Tuesday’s primary.
Lawyer Sharice Davids had 21 percent while Prairie Village teacher Tom Niermann received 15 percent. The undecided was 17 percent.
The poll surveyed 543 likely Democratic primary voters on Aug. 2 and 3. The survey’s margin of error was 4.2 percent.
The poll showed Welder leading in Johnson County with 36 percent to 21 percent for Davids and 15 percent for Niermann.
In Wyandotte County, the poll had Welder at 30 percent to 18 percent for Davids and 12 percent for Niermann.
So, chew on that this Sunday.
Kansas campaign spending
The ad-tracking firm Borrell Associates projects about $54 million in political advertising will be spent in Kansas this year.
Most of that – about $12.3 million – is estimated to be spent on the Kansas governor’s race as well as statewide offices and legislative races, according to the Williamsburg, Va.-based firm.
Another $9.7 million is estimated to be spent on local government races and $7.3 million on congressional races.
Overall, Borrell believes that $8.8 billion will be spent nationwide on political ads.
The states with the most spending include big states like California ($1.5 billion), New York ($611 million), Texas ($532 million) and Florida ($529 million).
The amount spent per eligible voter is a little different. In Massachusetts, it’s estimated that $75 will be spent per eligible voter, in Maryland it’s $73, Hawaii it’s $68 and Connecticut it’s $65. In California, $61 is spent per eligible voter.
So, the next time you complain about being inundated with campaign postcards or not being able to escape political ads on television, take comfort knowing that it can always be worse.
Dark money contributions
Not really so much Kansas news but probably of interest to Kansans. A little-covered court decision from Friday struck down the Federal Election Commission’s rule that allowed anonymous contributions to so-called dark money groups. Politico and The Hill have the details from Friday’s court ruling.
Democrats and rural Kansas
The AP’s John Hanna takes an interesting look at how Kansas Democrats plan to break a string of losses for statewide office by winning over voters in rural areas of the state. A major issue: How to deal with their lack of popularity outside the state’s urban centers.
As AP reports, the Democratic candidates are already spending a lot of time in western Kansas as evidenced by state Sen. Laura Kelly and former state Rep. Josh Svaty each holding 28 events there since the start of the year and former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer making 18 campaign stops out west. Svaty, who’s from Ellsworth, has talked up the importance of western Kansas throughout his campaign.
Mike Pence vs. Finney County
There was this curious story from late last week where Finney County officials were at odds with Vice President Mike Pence over whether a computer virus forced the county to shut down its election system.
Pence suggested at a cybersecurity summit last week that the virus had infected the county’s election system.
The county says that wasn’t the case. We’ll let you decide. Here’s coverage from the Garden City Telegram, KCUR, CNN.
Amtrak service saved
An amendment added to a Senate appropriations bill last week will keep the Southwest Chief running through Kansas en route to California.
The Senate bill provides $50 million for track maintenance and safety improvements that will ensure train service is not replaced with bus service between Dodge City and Albuquerque.
Amtrak needed an estimated $30 million to $50 million for upgrades – plus $3 million in annual maintenance – on track that’s owned by BNSF but used exclusively for passenger rail service.
Amtrak had said it was studying options that included the using buses on part of the route where track upgrades were needed.
Here’s coverage from the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Pueblo Chieftain, the Wichita Eagle, the Lawrence Journal-World and a news release from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s office.
States and sports betting
The National Conference of State Legislatures held its legislative summit last week where a panel discussion was held on the future of sports betting in the states. Here’s a summary of that discussion as the Kansas Legislature gets ready to deal with that issue next year.
New federal judge
The U.S. Senate has confirmed federal prosecutor Holly Teeter of Lenexa for a federal judgeship.
For a little bit of background, Teeter’s nomination ran into a bit of a stumbling block last year when the American Bar Association rated her as “not qualified” for a seat on the bench because of her lack of experience.
Here’s a statement from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s office on the confirmation.
Truth watch
Kansas News Service does its own truth watch for the Kansas gubernatorial candidates.
Gaches Braden’s new partner, new name
Gaches Braden & Associates announced that Travis Lowe would become the firm’s new partner after working as a contract lobbyist and association management executive.
Lowe has 11 years of legislative experience, including work as the legislative director for the Kansas Senate president before starting his own firm, Lowe & Associates.
The firm’s new name is Braden Heidner Lowe & Associates. Lowe will merge his clients with the new firm.
Fitzgerald backs Kobach
Republican state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, a candidate in the 2nd Congressional District, endorsed Kris Kobach in the gubernatorial primary.
“Kris Kobach has been a consistent conservative,” Fitzgerald said in statement. “He is willing to get into the fight and address the hard issues. He will provide needed leadership on pro-life, immigration, and other issues in Topeka”
Colyer’s statewide tour comes to an end
Gov. Jeff Colyer finished his 105-county tour of Kansas on Saturday. The tour concluded at Dagney’s Ice Cream in Salina.
“Getting the opportunity to talk to people from every single corner of our state and every walk of life has been an eye-opening experience that has bolstered my faith in the strength, the goodness, and the heart of Kansans,” the governor said in a statement.
“I could not be more humbled to the serve incredible the people of this great state.”
Other last-minute campaigning news
KSHB had this story about candidates campaigning in Gardner in advance of Tuesday’s primary. The Wyandotte Daily published this account of former Gov. John Carlin stumping for Josh Svaty over the weekend in Wyandotte County. There also was this story from the Wyandotte Daily about Gov. Jeff Colyer’s visit to Kansas City, Kan.
