Derek Schmidt
Feeble clergy sex abuse report exposes Schmidt’s sins. He betrayed his office and Kansas kids.
Now we know the true legacy of outgoing Attorney General Derek Schmidt: allowing likely sexual abusers of children to walk free. According to a summary from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, more than 400 children in our state were sexually abused by Catholic clergy since 1950. While the KBI looked into nearly 200 clergy and […]
Midterm squabbles distract from parties that remain ideologically unified, polarized
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. In the aftermath of this month’s midterm elections, political […]
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wins reelection over Republican challenger Derek Schmidt
TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has won a second four-year term, defeating Republican Derek Schmidt in a campaign that pitted her economic accomplishments against his transphobic appeals and attacks on pandemic policies. Schmidt congratulated Kelly on her “apparent reelection,” pending a tally of remaining ballots, and said “absent any unexpected development, it appears this […]
In Kansas governor’s race, Gov. Laura Kelly holds slim lead over Republican Derek Schmidt
TOPEKA — Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, clinging to a slim lead late Tuesday, told cheering supporters she expects to be declared the winner over Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt after the few remaining votes have been counted. She took the stage at midnight at her watch party in downtown Topeka, flanked by family members […]
Kansas voters get last word on partisan races, judicial careers and fate of two amendments
Kansas voters have their hands full with legislative, congressional and statewide races, and questions of judicial retention and constitutional reform.
Annual Kansas opinion survey captures robust support for gun control measures
Majority of Kansans surveyed by Docking Institute eager to broaden gun control laws by blocking sales to violent offenders and setting minimum age at 21.
Unsolicited text messages amplify Derek Schmidt’s lies about Kansas drag show
TOPEKA — Derek Schmidt’s lies about a nonexistent connection between Gov. Laura Kelly and a Wichita drag show are being amplified through unsolicited text messages to Kansas voters. Schmidt, the GOP candidate for governor, has used a false story from a U.K. tabloid to attack his Democratic rival as their bitter campaign enters the final […]
Even some GOP voters in Kansas support abortion. But Laura Kelly rarely talks about it.
It would be easy to assume Elaine Gail doesn’t support abortion rights. She’s a lifelong Republican whose parents worked for Republican campaigns in Kansas. She traveled with “Dolls for Dole,” a group of costumed young women who sang at campaign stops for the late Sen. Bob Dole, who once supported a Constitutional amendment to ban […]
Schmidt objects to federal energy proposal. But Kansas doesn’t have its own plan.
A stalled federal proposal meant to speed up efforts to site transmission and energy projects amounted to a takeover of grid planning, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and other Republican attorneys general wrote to U.S. Senate leaders last week. But Kansas has no statewide energy plan. It’s one of just seven states without one, according […]
Schmidt eager to alter selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices; Kelly prefers status quo
Two of the candidates for Kansas governor and two for attorney general clash on the process of filling vacancies on the Kansas Supreme Court.
Schmidt’s Kansas campaign message: Listen to Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and Kentucky
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 […]
Kansas and Missouri women politicians celebrate history ahead of tough election
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sipping “pink pussyhat punch” and “empowerment” cocktails, women leaders from Kansas and Missouri gathered Thursday in downtown Kansas City vowing to “smash the patriarchy” by encouraging more women to run for office. Hundreds of politicians and activists turned out for the 50th anniversary of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, where […]