What KS candidates for attorney general, treasurer & secretary of state say on key issues
Republican Kris Kobach and Democrat Chris Mann are vying to become Kansas’ new attorney general.
Read on to see their responses to voter guide questions, as well as responses from other statewide candidates for secretary of state, treasurer and insurance commissioner.
And here is a link to voter guide information for other races in south-central Kansas.
How the voter guide works:
Click on the race you are curious about, and you’ll go to a page with candidates’ responses. There, you can use the jump menu to get to a specific race or district.
Any candidates that do not have answers below their names did not respond to the survey. Our team contacted campaigns multiple times via both email and phone calls over the past month.
If you are a candidate who would still like to submit responses, you can email us at mwerts@wichitaeagle.com. Voters will continue using this tool through Election Day.
A note on editing and fact-checking
Some survey responses were very lightly edited for grammar. The substance of the responses was not edited and is in the candidates’ own words. The Star did not fact-check all of the candidates’ responses.
Attorney general
The current Kansas attorney general, Derek Schmidt, is running for governor. Democrat Chris Mann and Republican Kris Kobach are running against each other for the open position.
Chris Mann, Democrat
What will be the two most important questions you ask yourself when deciding to file a lawsuit on behalf of the state of Kansas?
Is this lawsuit in the best interest of the majority of Kansans, and will a lawsuit help Kansans or Kansas businesses more than it hurts them? I don’t think it demonstrates good judgment to file partisan lawsuits and waste taxpayer dollars on frivolous litigation. I will do what is best for our families, businesses and state, while protecting our state’s rights and interests.
After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role should the state government and the attorney general’s office play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?
Leaders in public office should respect the will of the people who voted overwhelmingly to protect the constitutional right to personal autonomy. The attorney general’s office should follow and enforce the laws that are on the books and defend the Kansas Constitution. I will focus the resources of that office on cracking down on violent crime and punishing sexual predators who victimize women and girls.
Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you believe Kansas’ elections are secure and devoid of fraud?
The 2020 presidential election was fairly decided. Kansas’ elections are some of the most secure in the country. My opponent, Kris Kobach, exaggerated the existence of voter fraud cases as secretary of state. Ultimately, he could only find a few people who got confused by the system. If voter fraud cases are discovered, they should be prosecuted.
Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?
I’m not a partisan guy. I’ve always been a public servant committed to keeping my community safe. As a former police officer and prosecutor, I have an understanding of law enforcement and public safety that may be viewed by some people as uncommon in my political party. I know that it takes partnership between communities and law enforcement to really improve safety and the quality of life of our families. I believe we have to invest in public safety, as well as public education, to keep kids on the right path. By creating safe communities, our economy can thrive.
Campaign website: chrismannforkansas.com
Kris Kobach, Republican
After numerous emails, phone calls and text messages over a span of more than two weeks, Kris Kobach did not respond to requests to complete the candidate survey.
Campaign website: www.kriskobach.com
Secretary of state
Republican Scott Schwab is the current Kansas Secretary of State. He is running for reelection against Democrat Jeanna Repass and Libertarian Cullene Lang.
Jeanna Repass, Democrat
What will you do to make Kansas elections more secure?
Election transparency and security are top priorities; at the same time, these need not be clouded with partisan fear mongering or self-serving disinformation. I am committed to supporting county election offices in 21st century approaches to secure and transparent elections. We will spend money on personnel, a more up-to-date website and social media presence as part of the office’s commitment to public-facing communication, on recruiting and training both staff and elections observers. Unlike my opponent, I will not waste taxpayer money on frivolous lawsuits that throw illegitimacy on the election when the officeholder personally dislikes the outcome.
What will you do to make it easier for Kansans to vote?
We’ve seen legislation that unconstitutionally disenfranchised over 30,000 Kansans and reduced funding sources to county election offices, and an incumbent who is defying court orders to turn over the 45,000 provisional ballots that have been withheld since the 2020 election. These attacks on elections have burdened thousands of Kansans, especially our rural neighbors.
I will empower rather than disenfranchise voters by expediting implementation of the “Vote Anywhere” law that allows Kansans to vote at any polling location within their county. I support mail-in ballots for Kansas voters, and the infrastructure to keep them safe and secure.
Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you believe Kansas’ elections are secure and devoid of fraud?
After decades of progress for our constitutional right to vote, it is concerning that we must now vigilantly work to defend our rights to participate in our elections here in Kansas. The 2020 election was fairly decided and Biden is the legitimate president. My goal is to restore the trust in our elections that the incumbent has allowed to deteriorate. We can’t have a secretary of state who’s preoccupied by court battles and scandal - we need someone who will focus on building up our elections to be even more secure, transparent, and fair.
What will be your biggest priority in office that you haven’t addressed in the questions above?
Whether dealing with business records, campaign finance, or election security, the need I see for transparency in the office of secretary of state is central to why I am running. However, our business records are currently difficult to access by the companies that depend on them, and the secretary of state office has not taken the initiative required to get these systems running smoothly, to the detriment of small businesses.
I have a plan to redesign and upgrade our website to allow businesses to file smoothly and efficiently, and to give Kansans access to the information they require.
Campaign website: www.jeannarepass.com
Scott J. Schwab, Republican
What will you do to make Kansas elections more secure?
In the Legislature, I pursued policies that increased voter confidence without making it more challenging to cast your ballot. Measures like voter ID and post-election audits ensure we provide Kansas voters with trusted results without sacrificing voter engagement.
As your secretary of state, I have spent my first term in office increasing training and resources for election officials, enhancing security for election equipment, protecting your right to a secret ballot, and fighting to ensure you can cast your ballot in person, before Election Day, or by mail.
What will you do to make it easier for Kansans to vote?
Kansas is nationally recognized for our free, fair, and safe elections and is an example of how to increase security to protect your vote without limiting ballot access or voter turnout. Kansas has several options for voters to cast their ballot: by advance mail ballot, advance in person, or on Election Day.
I have stood firm in protecting voter options and reducing voter confusion, and I am committed to continuing these priorities in a second term.
Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you believe Kansas’ elections are secure and devoid of fraud?
Joe Biden is the president of the United States. Through measures like post-election audits, voter ID, and secure election equipment practices, Kansas has repeatedly proven that our elections are secure and that there is no systemic election fraud in our state.
We have a safe election process, and voters should be confident that their vote was counted.
What will be your biggest priority in office that you haven’t addressed in the questions above?
Over the last four years, we have been migrating our Business Services Division off of an outdated computer system and onto a new and reliable system that will streamline filings and enable Kansas businesses to file more documents online.
To strengthen our economy, we must make it easier for businesses to start and grow. By reducing filing and regulatory burdens and allowing reports to be filed on a biennial basis rather than annually, we can foster economic growth in our communities. These initiatives are in progress, and I am running for reelection to finish what we started.
Campaign website: scottschwab.com
Cullene Lang, Libertarian
After numerous attempts to contact via email and phone over a span of more than two weeks, Cullene Lang did not respond to requests to complete the candidate survey.
Campaign website: www.facebook.com/cullene.lang
Treasurer
Democrat Lynn Rogers is the current Kansas treasurer. He is running for reelection against Republican Steven Johnson and Libertarian Steve Roberts.
Lynn W. Rogers, Democrat
What is your biggest concern with the way money is managed in Kansas?
My biggest concern about how money is managed in Kansas, as the custodian of the public funds, is that the people of Kansas should be put first when financial decisions are made.That’s why the unclaimed property that belongs to the public shouldn’t be gambled with. That’s why KPERS needs to be supported, funded, and governed well.At the end of the day, the treasurer is the people’s banker. The people’s banker needs to maintain a well-run office that serves the public at the highest level, from supporting your educational pursuits to your retirement journey.
What will be your first priority once you get into office?
My goals for the treasurer’s office include updating and improving our existing programs. For instance, the Kansas Housing Loan Deposit Program has not been used because it needs reform. This program could be used to help Kansans access safe, affordable housing and be run in a way that includes people who face discrimination and exclusion from the housing market.
I also want to expand the options we provide with options to save for education. We actively seek to promote the savings plans such as Learning Quest 529 plans and KIDS accounts that allow individuals to save for post secondary education.
Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?
I believe in the integrity of our election system, and attacks on our democracy threaten the government’s ability to serve the public. The January 6th insurrection stands as an example of how these threats escalate when we support extremism, and I believe the current administration was fairly elected to office.
Democracy is what has built our state and nation into what they are today, and while there is still work to be done, we can’t do that work wasting our resources on extreme tactics.
Campaign website: www.rogersforkansas.com
Steven Johnson, Republican
After numerous emails, phone calls and text messages over a span of more than two weeks, Steven Johnson did not respond to requests to complete the candidate survey.
Campaign website: www.stevenjohnsonks.com
Steve Roberts, Libertarian
What is your biggest concern with the way money is managed in Kansas?
Kansan government allocates $2 out of every $3 it collects for education. About 52% goes to K-12; another 14% to higher education -- colleges, universities and trade schools. We are not getting our money’s worth. I see better ways of doing many things in schooling. I see how to reduce class sizes in early primary grades without raising taxes, and while we are at it, give substantial salary increases to our better teachers.
What will be your first priority once you get into office?
Acknowledge that accountants and auditors have important jobs to track expenditures from the treasury department. Let the treasury department employees understand that continuity in the department is essential. The changes I wish to make are in schooling. I will build a better bridge between the state board, with Dr. Randy Watson, and our governor, whether that is Kelly, Schmidt (or even Cordell).
Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?
As a third-party candidate, I see many flaws in our politics. Voting is part of that dim picture. The 2020 presidential election was as fair as most elections, I reckon. Frankly, if the awful events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol had been a genuine insurrection, there would have been more weaponry with orchestration. The rule of law was ignored by the rioters and by the president; they did not accede to standards of peaceful civil disobedience preached by Dr. King for righting wrongs in law. Condemn the idiocy of the events, not its “masterminding.” The latter was absent.
Campaign website: reckon2022.org
Insurance commissioner
Republican Vicki Schmidt is the current Kansas insurance commissioner. She is running for reelection against Democrat Kiel Corkran. Neither candidate completed the candidate survey.
