(Updated to correct date and time of secretary of state’s debate)
Good morning:
Another week over and another week closer to the general election. It’s just a little more than three weeks, or 24 days, away now. Let’s get caught up on stories that you might have missed throughout the week but need to know.
Secretary of state’s race
Everyone it seems has a rating for the governor’s race and the two hot congressional races in the 2nd and the 3rd Districts.
There’s also one for the Kansas secretary of state’s race if you haven’t followed along.
Governing magazine now says the race between Democrat Brian McClendon and Republican Scott Schwab is a “tossup.” Earlier this summer, Governing said the race leaned Republican.
In this case, Governing suggests that McClendon may benefit from the governor’s race and the congressional races drawing out Democrats in the general election.
For what it’s worth, the only polling seen for the race so far showed Schwab leading McClendon 43 percent to 34 percent with Libertarian Rob Hodgkinson getting 5 percent. Sixteen percent of the voters were undecided. The margin of error was 2.4 percent.
As of July 26, McClendon reported having $176,000 on hand after raising about $506,000, including $150,000 that he gave his own campaign. Schwab, meanwhile, reported about $18,000 in the bank after leading a field of five candidates in the primary. McClendon did not have a primary.
Schwab, McClendon and Hodgkinson are set to debate at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15 on KTWU in Topeka. The debate will be rebroadcast in Kansas City on KCPT at 5 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 21
Should be interesting.
Voting machine records
Beyond the campaign for secretary of state, the Hutchinson News is reporting on Sunday a problem with records showing that Kris Kobach’s office had certified voting machines across the state.
State law requires the office to certify voting machines before they’re purchased by the counties, the Hutch News reported.
However, the office only provided the newspaper with two letters showing that machines had been certified in the last five years.
Several counties’ voting systems that were purchased since 2013 were not among those mentioned in the certification letters.
Kansas politics in the national spotlight
The Kansas political scene is increasingly under a microscope this election with the traditionally red state poised to elect a Democratic governor and perhaps two Democrats to Congress. Reporters across the country are fascinated by the narrative that’s unfolding here. So, we give you two more national stores, one from The Atlantic and another from Washington Monthly.
Pastor released/Kansas connection
Former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and former Congressman and now U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo received credit over the weekend for going to bat for a Christian pastor held in Turkey on charges of spying. Pastor Andrew Brunson returned to the United States on Saturday after being jailed in Turkey for two years.
Brownback, now religious freedom ambassador for the Trump administration, had used the Brunson case as an example of religious persecution abroad. He also attended Brunson’s trial last spring and has been outspoken about the case. In an interview earlier this year, Brownback predicted that Turkey would eventually release Brunson.
A Becker comeback?
After losing in the Republican primary, state Rep. Steve Becker is mounting a write-in comeback campaign in the general election.
The Buhler Republican announced on Facebook last week that he plans to launch a campaign against conservative Paul Waggoner in the general election.
Waggoner defeated Becker in the primary by nine votes, 2,045 to 2,036, in House District 104. The race wasn’t decided until after the provisional ballots were counted.
“I just couldn’t say no to all the calls, messages and emails….I’m honored to give ALL the constituents in the 104th a choice at the polls….When you vote write in my name on your ballot, ‘Steve Becker’ AND darken in the oval next to it…it’s that simple….”
He also posted a Facebook video where he acknowledged that a write-in campaign would be “notoriously difficult.”
In the video, he called the primary election a “toxic” campaign and that he received an outpouring of support to renew his re-election effort after his primary loss.
“This encouragement has continued for two months,” he said. “I can’t do it alone. I have to have your help.”
Derek Schmidt discusses the future
In an interview with the Topeka Capital-Journal’s editorial advisory board, Attorney General Derek Schmidt reveals that he considered running for Congress in the 2nd District.
Schmidt told the C-J he gave up on the idea because he didn’t want to be separated from his family. He also looked at the governor’s race but decided the timing wasn’t right. He said he intends to serve out his term if re-elected attorney general but wouldn’t rule out a Congressional bid in 2020.
Education and the governor’s race
Kansas News Service has a rather complete package (including audio) on what each of the gubernatorial candidates would do about school spending. The piece avoids a lot of the back-and-forth over who’s telling the truth about education funding and cuts to the heart of how each candidate is approaching the issue. Worth a read (or listen).
Governor’s race on television
Lots of good television coverage of the governor’s race, including a series of stories broadcast by KSHB and in-depth interviews with each of candidates on KTWU in Topeka.
The KSHB interviews reveal a softer side, mixing a little personal with the policy and are probably the more voter-friendly pieces you might see about the candidates. Here’s a roundup of that television coverage if you missed it.
Kobach
Kelly
Orman
And for more in-depth discussion, Washburn political science professor Bob Beatty interviews all five of the gubernatorial candidates, including Libertarian Jeff Caldwell and independent Rick Kloos. It’s about an hour long with Greg Orman, Laura Kelly and Kris Kobach making up the last part of the broadcast.
Davids forum questioned
The Kansas City Star looks at the juxtaposition of Democratic congressional candidate Sharice Davids holding a panel discussion Saturday about special interest money in politics while she’s benefiting from some big-money groups that lean to the left.
The story points out all the money Davids has received from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the political action committee affiliated with Emily’s List. At the same time, she criticizes Rep. Kevin Yoder for accepting millions from insurance companies, payday lenders and Wall Street interests.
Trump campaign manager comes home
A story flying under the radar last week was the Topeka homecoming for President Donald Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale. The hometown Topeka paper scored an interview with Parscale at the president’s rally last weekend.
Kansas teacher shortage
Kansas News Service had this interesting story that looked at the dearth of teachers in the Sunflower State. KNS reported that there were more than 600 vacant teaching positions statewide, about 100 more than a year ago.
District 70 forum
Republican state Rep. John Barker and Democrat Jo Schwartz went at it last week on a variety of issues ranging from Medicaid to education to state finances. Here’s an account of the event from the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.
Colyer administration departure
Tracy Streeter, director of the Kansas Water Office, will retire Dec. 14. Streeter has served as director since June 2004.
Streeter oversaw the implementation of the state water plan and presided over numerous state and federal cooperative efforts, including the successful restoration of water supply storage at John Redmond Reservoir.
Colyer has named Earl Lewis as interim director. Lewis is a licensed professional engineer and has served as the Kansas Water Office assistant director since 2007.
He was an appointed member of the Governor’s Water Vision Team and also currently serves as president of the National Water Supply Alliance.
