Kansas Congressman Launches Senate Bid to Block Kobach
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The congressman who represents western Kansas is launching a Senate campaign and pitching himself to fellow Republicans as a pragmatic conservative. Two-term Rep. Roger Marshall says he is confident he can thwart immigration hardliner Kris Kobach's bid for the GOP nomination. Marshall entered the race Saturday facing skepticism on the right despite anti-abortion and gun-rights views and a record of voting with President Donald Trump. Kobach is the former Kansas secretary of state and launched his bid in July after losing the governor's race last year. Marshall stressed his rural ties in an interview. He portrayed himself as part of a line of western Kansas congressmen who've later served in the Senate, including former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts is not seeking re-election in 2020.
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State Republican Parties Mull Canceling Primaries, Caucuses
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republicans in several states are set to decide whether they'll cancel plans to hold presidential preference selections before the 2020 election. It wouldn't be unusual move by the party of the White House incumbent seeking a second term. In meetings Saturday, Republican parties in Kansas, South Carolina, and Nevada are expected to debate canceling primaries, caucuses or other voting. Arizona is expected to make a decision later in the month. Several challengers to President Donald Trump have emerged, including Bill Weld , a former Massachusetts governor, and Joe Walsh , a former Illinois congressman. Others may join them. In years past, both Republicans and Democrats have scrapped state nominating contests when an incumbent president from their party ran for a second term.
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Shawnee County Commission Chairman Announces Resignation
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Shawnee County Commission Chairman Bob Archer has announced he is resigning. The Capital-Journal reports that Archer issued the announcement Thursday, saying his resignation will be effective September 30th. The 71-year-old Archer says he's leaving the commission for health reasons, noting that he underwent chemotherapy two years ago to treat non-Hodgkins lymphoma and still suffers from bouts of anemia. Archer is in his second term on the county commission, which he joined after being elected in November 2012. He represents the commission's District 3, which covers south and southwest Topeka and Shawnee County. The Shawnee County Republican Party's precinct committee will choose a replacement at a later date. Archer's seat is among offices up for election in 2020.
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Man Held on $1 Million Bond in Topeka Stabbing Death
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor has charged a man with premeditated first-degree murder in the stabbing death of another man in Topeka. The Capital-Journal reports that Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced the charge Friday against 40-year-old Andrew Timothy Evans. Evans is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on a $1 million bond in the September 1st death of 41-year-old Raymond Lee Smith. Police say Smith was found suffering from life-threatening injuries in a Topeka house. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel.
