In Kansas Governor’s Race, Key Republicans Are Backing the Democrat Over Kris Kobach (Goes to Mother Jones)

I’m not really sure how important endorsements are in a political race, whether it’s a newspaper, a current or former politician, &c. It seems to me only if the endorser has a great following of people will they use an endorsement as part of the calculus of who to vote for.

Former Republican Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum, who served from 1978 to 1997, endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Laura Kelly over Republican Kris Kobach on Tuesday. “It seems to me that Kobach has developed a record that shows a focus on ways and how to accomplish his end goals that I think are not the best for Kansas,” Kassebaum said.

Earlier this month, former Kansas Republican Gov. Bill Graves, who held office from 1995 to 2003, also announced he was endorsing Kelly over Kobach. “Laura Kelly is the only Democrat I have ever endorsed for public office,” Graves said. “And the reason I’m doing that now is because I believe so much is at stake in the state of Kansas.”

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