TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Former Kansas Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer on Tuesday urged the state treasurer to drop his Senate bid and instead challenge freshman Rep. Steve Watkins in the GOP primary, arguing the move would help nominate a candidate that can win.
Colyers public opposition to a congressman from his own party came less than a week after Watkins, responding to internet rumors and speculation, tweeted that he was not resigning: Let me get this straight. I have to deny a resignation that no one called for. Got it. Done. K, going back to work. See you in November.
Colyer issued a statement saying the eastern Kansas districts voters are solid, conservative folks who deserve to be represented by someone sharing their values. Spokesman Colton Gibson said Colyer is not taking issue with Watkins on any policy issues but is concerned about keeping the seat in Republican hands.
Were talking about electability here, Gibson said.
The former governor argued that if Treasurer Jake LaTurner were to drop out of next years Senate race and run for the eastern Kansas seat, it would both give the state an improved candidate for House and help clear the logjam in the Senate race next year.
LaTurner issued a statement saying was humbled by Colyers encouraging words and would take time with his family to prayerfully consider his suggestion.
The growing GOP field in the Senate race already includes six candidates, including Kris Kobach nationally known for advocating tough immigration policies. Many Republicans fear Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, will win the nomination, alienate moderates and put a normally safe GOP seat at risk. Colyer himself opted out of the race Monday.
Four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts announced in January that he is not seeking re-election in 2020. The GOP has won every Senate race in Kansas since 1932.
But Kobach lost the governors race last year to Democrat Laura Kelly after narrowly defeating Colyer in the GOP primary.
Colyer had been elevated to governor from lieutenant governor early in the year after then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback resigned to take an ambassadors post.
Making sure that we have nominees that are successful at being able to win the general election in both of those races is a high priority, said Kelly Arnold, a former state GOP chairman. Thats kind of what it appears hes looking at.
Watkins is a former Army officer and military contractor who won the seat in 2018 by less than a percentage point as a political unknown after emerging from a crowded Republican primary. President Donald Trump carried the district easily in 2016, and Colyer cited the disparity between Trumps showing and Watkins result two years later.
After a town hall meeting Monday in Topeka, Watkins declined to explain the tweet dismissing speculation that he could resign.
Im going to do my job to the best of my ability, he said as he left the event.
Watkins spokesman did not return messages seeking comment about Colyers statement, but his campaign Twitter campaign derided these attempted political swamp chess moves in a post Tuesday.
