Ex-Kansas Governor Colyer endorses Rep. Roger Marshall in Senate race

Former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, who narrowly lost the 2018 gubernatorial primary to Kris Kobach, announced Monday that he is endorsing one of Kobach’s opponents in this year’s U.S. Senate race: Rep. Roger Marshall.

Kobach lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly but is now running against Marshall and others to replace retiring Sen. Pat Roberts. Some Republicans fear Kobach, a former state secretary of state, could again win the primary but lose the general election. Kansas Republicans have won every Senate election since the 1930s.

Colyer, in announcing his support for Marshall on Monday, said the congressman is uniquely experienced to make sure he not only wins the primary, but is also a candidate “I’m certain that Republicans and all Kansans can get behind for the general election.”

For his part, Kobach has dismissed concerns about his electability by saying that the issues at play in a federal race are different than in the race for governor. Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said in an email Colyer’s endorsement wasn’t surprising “since Colyer is a quintessential Establishment figure and Marshall represents the Establishment moderates.”

Colyer’s endorsement of Marshall is the second time the former governor has inserted himself into a Republican primary since leaving office a year ago. He has also endorsed Jake LaTurner, the state treasurer, in his challenge of incumbent Rep. Steve Watkins.

Asked whether Colyer’s endorsement of Marshall was connected to his loss to Kobach, Colyer promised he would support the eventual GOP nominee, whoever that person is, But said Marshall is the best candidate “to make sure that he can raise the millions of dollars that really happen in a modern-day race.”

Marshall led Republican candidates in fundraising last quarter, collecting nearly $218,000. But Democratic candidate Barbara Bollier, a state senator, outraised every candidate with a haul of nearly $1.2 million last quarter.

This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Ex-Kansas Governor Colyer endorses Rep. Roger Marshall in Senate race."