TOPEKA — Republican attorney general candidate Kris Kobach declared victory Tuesday night, though his Democratic opponent Chris Mann says the race is still too close to call.
At midnight, Kobach took to the Kansas GOP watch party stage to announce his win.
“I don’t care who you are, or where you come from, you gotta love a comeback story,” Kobach said. “Know that my victory is not about me. It’s about a desire to save our state and save our country. I’m so honored that so many Kansans put their trust in me.”
Kelli Kee, Mann campaign spokeswoman, said that the race wasn’t over yet.
“There are tens of thousands of ballots that have yet to be counted by elections officials. We will wait until every vote is counted. That is the democratic process. Every Kansan deserves their voice to be heard,” Kelli Kee said in a released statement. “Kris Kobach has a record of disenfranchising voters, misleading voters and preventing eligible Kansans from participating in our elections. It’s time he follow the law and wait for votes to be counted.”
Wednesday morning, Kobach had 51% of the vote with 493,775 votes to Mann’s 49% of those cast with 471,076 votes. Kobach said he would work to protect women’s sports and would fight President Joe Biden’s administration.
“The Attorney General’s Office is essential in holding the line in defending our Constitution and defending the rule of law in this country. And that’s what we intend to do,” Kobach said.
Kobach has emphasized border control and election security throughout the race. He has said Kansas is at risk from fentanyl flowing in from the border with Mexico and that he would work with southern law enforcement agencies if elected, as well as crack down on retail crime.
A former police officer and prosecutor, Mann has emphasized his public service record. Mann also said he would increase election transparency, work to limit special interest groups who use money to influence politics, and support open records laws and laws that would increase legislative transparency. Mann also campaigned for increased gun safety measures.
Mann said Kansans supported his public safety message.
“From day one, the message hasn’t changed,” Mann said. “We’ve been about public safety over politics, and that’s resonated across the state. And as we’ve gotten that message out there, that’s what’s moved the numbers and put that momentum in our favor because people are tired of career politicians who just want to pursue their own agenda.”
Kobach has emphasized border control and election security throughout the race. He has said Kansas is at risk from fentanyl flowing in from the border with Mexico and that he would work with southern law enforcement agencies if elected, as well as crack down on retail crime.
Secretary of state
Incumbent Republican Scott Schwab gave his victory speech during the Kansas GOP election party after receiving 58% of the vote, 550, 394 votes out of the 942,141 votes reported so far.
Schwab said his re-election proved that the Republican Party was still functional and that the GOP message still resonated with Kansans.
Schwab has repeatedly declared Kansas elections safe and secure, bucking national and local trends of Republicans casting doubt over ballot accuracy, including in 2020, when several high-ranking Kansas Republicans supported former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud.
