President Donald Trump overruled the warnings of aides Monday to endorse controversial Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in that state’s Republican gubernatorial primary.In a morning tweet ahead of the Tuesday contest, Trump said Kobach has his “full & total Endorsement!” as he faces off against a field of candidates that includes incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer.
“Kris Kobach, a strong and early supporter of mine, is running for Governor of the Great State of Kansas,” Trump added. “He is a fantastic guy who loves his State and our Country – he will be a GREAT Governor.”
Kobach gained a national profile as an ardent advocate of stricter voter identification laws in his state, including a requirement in Kansas law that new voters provide proof of citizenship when they register that a federal judge recently struck down. His views on immigration policy also align with Trump’s and he advised the Trump campaign on a strategy for forcing Mexico to pay for the wall.
Kobach was the most prominent Kansas elected official — and the only one holding statewide office — to publicly endorse Trump ahead of the state’s 2016 presidential caucuses. Since Trump’s election, he has continued to advise the White House on immigration and homeland security issues.
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04.28.2025