Pub. 8 2019 Issue 1

L E A D I N G A D V O C A T E F O R T H E B A N K I N G I N D U S T R Y I N K A N S A S 8 Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas Governor ROBERTS’ RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FUELS SPECULATION FOR U.S. SENATE SEAT T he announcement by U.S. Senator Pat Roberts that he won’t seek re-election in 2020 has immediately fueled speculation on who will attempt to replace the longest serving member of the Kansas Congressional Delegation. The first to officially throw his name into the ring is Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, who was initially appointed to his current post by former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, and then subsequently won the right to serve a full four-year term last fall. LaTurner, a native of Pittsburg, Kansas, served as a state senator before assuming the state treasurer’s post. LaTurner is a relative newcomer to statewide politics and he is far from the only statewide or federally elected official mulling a run for Robert’s seat. Others include Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who has served as Kansas’ chief law enforcement official since 2010 and current Kansas’ 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall, who was recently re-elected to his second term in the U.S. House. Other well known Republicans who have expressed interest include Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, former Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer and former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Most political prognosticators are predicting crowded fields in both the Republican and Democratic primary races for this seat; that is, unless U.S. Secretary of State and former Kansas 4th District Congressman Mike Pompeo decides to enter the fray. Several Washington, D.C. media outlets have reported that Secretary Pompeo is being encouraged to run by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. It is also worth noting that Kansas Democrats are fresh off a solid victory by Congresswoman Sharice Davids in the 3rd Congressional District and won’t simply concede this seat. Some early names mentioned on that side of the political aisle include former State Representative Paul Davis, who lost by a razor-thin margin in the 2nd Congressional District race and former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. For now, several of the aforementioned contenders are likely just testing the waters, but with 23 short months remaining between now and the November 2020 election, look for those seriously interested in running to dive in sooner rather than later. Jake LaTurner, Kansas State Treasurer Derek Schmidt, Kansas Attorney General Roger Marshall, Kansas 1st District Congressman Susan Wagle, Kansas Senate President Jeff Colyer, former Kansas Governor Kris Kobach, Former Kansas Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State and former Kansas 4th District Congressman Sharice Davids, Kansas 3rd District Congresswoman Paul Davis, former Kansas State Representative By Doug Wareham, KBA President and CEO