Election 2022

Derek Schmidt and Laura Kelly pose for photo after debate

Schmidt eager to alter selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices; Kelly prefers status quo

BY: - October 6, 2022

Two of the candidates for Kansas governor and two for attorney general clash on the process of filling vacancies on the Kansas Supreme Court.

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie spoke at Wednesday's rally in support of Derek Schmidt. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Republicans rally voters against Biden, Kelly at start of statewide tour

BY: - October 5, 2022

TOPEKA — The Kansan Republican Party was out in full force Wednesday, starting a six-day statewide bus tour meant to woo voters and energize support for GOP candidates ahead of the November election.  In the parking lot of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association, gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Derek Schmidt was joined by former New […]

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, left, the Republican nominee for governor, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, right, complete preparations for the Wednesday debate hosted by the Johnson County Bar Association. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas governor frontrunners Schmidt, Kelly counterpunch through debate in Johnson County

BY: - October 5, 2022

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the Republican nominee for governor, meet for their second debate of the 2022 campaign.

OPINION
Derek Schmidt appears onstage

Schmidt’s Kansas campaign message: Listen to Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and Kentucky

BY: - October 5, 2022

Attorney General Derek Schmidt seems to believe that the pathway to the Kansas governor’s office involves making the race this fall as little about Kansas as possible. What else would you call the appearances with the governors from distant states like Virginia, Florida and New Jersey? Why would Schmidt highlight his stance against transgender students […]

Women could claim the most governors’ seats in U.S. history in November

BY: - October 4, 2022

WASHINGTON — Women running in governors’ races throughout the country are potentially set to break records if elected this November. In total there are 25 women governor candidates nominated by the two major political parties this election cycle, sharply up from 16 in 2018. Democrats hold 16 of those nominations, with nine GOP women candidates […]

A high number of appeals prompted the Kansas Republican Party's loyalty committee to suspend sanctions against GOP officials who signed a petition leading to placement on the November ballot of independent governor candidate Dennis Pyle. The state party alleges Pyle's presence helped reelect Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly by drawing votes from GOP nominee Derek Schmidt. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

November election to decide Kansas Supreme Court climate, constitutional amendments

BY: - October 4, 2022

TOPEKA — In November, six of Kansas’ seven Supreme Court judges are up for retention votes, and two constitutional amendments will be decided. Advocacy groups say these choices on the November ballot offer voters an opportunity to shift Kansas’ political landscape. One state constitution amendment focuses on reducing the governor’s executive power and the other […]

Kansas typically didn't get media coverage consistent with reporting on Democratic candidates. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Former Gov. Colyer claims Kansas media biased against Republicans: ‘We don’t get a fair hearing’

BY: - October 4, 2022

Former GOP Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says political coverage in the state favors Democrats and claims about partisan threats to democracy are exaggerated.

U.S. Supreme Court members

Alabama case that could limit Voting Rights Act heard at U.S. Supreme Court

BY: - October 4, 2022

WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday heard oral arguments in a case that challenges an Alabama redistricting map and could potentially eliminate remaining federal safeguards against racial gerrymandering. Voting rights advocates fear that the high court’s conservative majority will further weaken the Voting Rights Act, with implications for voters in states across the […]

Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas endorsed for reelection Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly rather than Republican gubernatorial nominee Derek Schmidt, who previously worked for Kassebaum. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)

Former U.S. Sen. Kassebaum endorses Democrat Kelly in Kansas governor’s race

BY: - October 3, 2022

Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum endorses for reelection Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly rather than GOP nominee Derek Schmidt.

National Journal's updated assessment of the Kansas governor's race points to Attorney General Derek Schmidt's "lackluster campaign" and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's focus on "kitchen-table" issues and the August rejection by Kansas voters of the abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

National Journal’s take on Kansas governor’s race: ‘What’s the matter with Kansas?’

BY: - September 30, 2022

National Journal's update on Kansas governor's race questioned the campaign of Republican nominee Derek Schmidt against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

In a 90-minute debate, Laura Kelly and Derek Schmidt weren't just in different worlds. They were in different universes.

Parental rights fight in Kansas schools spawns book bans, scrutiny of LGBTQ students

BY: - September 30, 2022

TOPEKA — Lawmakers say remnants of a proposed parents’ bill of rights are impacting school districts, referencing several schools’ transgender student policies and recent attempts to remove books from curriculum. Critics of the parents’ bill of rights say the proposal is unnecessarily restrictive. Under the bill, which Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed in April, each public […]

US Capitol at Night

U.S. Senate approves stopgap spending bill with disaster relief, heating aid

BY: - September 29, 2022

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved broadly bipartisan legislation Thursday that would provide billions for natural disaster relief, military and economic aid to Ukraine and funding to help low-income families offset the rising costs of heating and cooling their homes. It includes $2.5 billion in assistance for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire that burned large swaths of […]