Kansas governor calls last-minute challenge ‘foolhardy,’ reaffirms Corson pick
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- Gov. Laura Kelly reaffirmed her support for Democratic state senator Ethan Corson.
- Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog launched his campaign just before the filing deadline.
- Kelly called Skoog’s late entry “foolhardy” and emphasized Corson’s statewide.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly reaffirmed her support for state Sen. Ethan Corson’s campaign for governor on Monday, releasing a fiery statement that called the last-minute entry of a new Democratic challenger “foolhardy.”
Kelly’s statement came just hours after Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog launched an 11th-hour campaign for governor just before Monday’s candidate filing deadline for the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. Skoog’s entry threatens to scramble the Democratic race, pitting the Overland Park mayor against Corson and state Sen. Cindy Holscher, who also hails from Overland Park.
“A thrown-together, last minute, opportunistic attempt to divert my whole-hearted endorsement or that of others who know, for the sake of our children, our businesses and our state, that Ethan Corson must be the next governor of Kansas, is foolhardy,” Kelly said in a thinly-veiled reference to Skoog’s launch.
Kelly, the face of the Kansas Democratic Party, had endorsed Corson late last year. In an endorsement video, she called the Democratic state senator from Fairway “the most qualified and most suited to be our next governor.”
The term-limited governor made her support of Corson crystal clear on Monday, once again offering a full-throated endorsement of his campaign. Corson has spent the past year traveling the state and thousands of Kansans have invested their time and money to elect him, she said.
“I endorsed Ethan Corson to be the next governor because he is the only candidate, Republican or Democrat, who has what it takes to keep Kansas on track,” Kelly said. “Ethan is smart, focused, and battle-tested. He is also a man of great integrity whom Kansans can trust to listen, to work hard and to fight on their behalf.”
The statement on Monday could prove pivotal for Corson as Democrats seek to hold onto the Governor’s Office. Support from Kelly will likely play a major role in winning over Democratic primary voters.
After launching his campaign on Monday, Skoog quickly sought to align himself with Kelly and tap into that support. In comments with reporters, the Overland Park mayor told reporters that he met with Kelly last week to discuss the race and his candidacy.
“Gov. Kelly and I go way back,” Skoog said after filing for office at the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office.
In response to Kelly’s comments later on Monday, Skoog released a statement that took aim at Senate President Ty Masterson, the presumptive Republican frontrunner who received earned President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
“At City Hall, I have spent more than 20 years working with Kansans to produce real results for our community, state, and region,” Skoog said. “Those same neighbors and Kansans across the state have made it clear to me that Donald Trump-endorsed Ty Masterson cannot be our next governor and that they are increasingly concerned about that possibility.”
Skoog criticized Masterson’s leadership in the Kansas Senate. He also touted his campaign’s chances of defeating Masterson and pointed to his running mate, Jennifer McKenney, a physician from Fredonia.
“As a mayor and a rural health physician, I believe Jen and I are best positioned to defeat Masterson and serve the people of Kansas as their next governor,” Skoog said.
The Democratic shakeup comes as Republicans remain confident they can successfully flip the office this year. Kansas has not consecutively elected governors of the same party in decades and Johnson County candidates have historically struggled in statewide elections.
The Republican confidence reached a fever pitch last week when Trump threw his support — and that of national Republicans — behind Masterson.
The endorsement appeared to solidify as the frontrunner in a crowded field that also includes former Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. Other Republicans in the race include Philip Sarnecki, Charlotte O’Hara and Stacy Rogers.
Separately on Monday, former Gov. Jeff Colyer, a longtime Trump supporter, bowed out of the race after losing out on the president’s endorsement.
The Star’s Taylor O’Connor contributed reporting.
