Donald Trump Endorses Candidate Derek Schmidt in 2nd District Primary

Schmidt is competing with four other Republicans in the congressional primaries

BY: TIM CARPENTER
Kansas reflector

TOPEKA — Former President Donald Trump has endorsed former state Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the five-way Republican primary in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.

Trump, who won the Republican Party’s nomination for president for the third time, said he was impressed that Schmidt was re-elected attorney general by large margins in 2016 and 2020.

“A patriot of American First and a true friend of MAGA,” Trump said on social media. “Derek is now running for Congress where he will work tirelessly to grow the economy, secure the border, uphold the rule of law, support our veterans, strengthen our military, defend our ever-beleaguered Second Amendment, and defend our incredible farmers and ranchers.”

Trump said Schmidt had his “complete and total support,” and stated that Schmidt “would never let you down.”

Five candidates competed in the Republican Party primaries to select a candidate for the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican who decided not to run for re-election to Congress.

Schmidt, who consistently leads Republicans by double digits in the polls, said he was honored by Trump’s support.

“His strength in the face of adversity like we saw this month in Pennsylvania is exactly what we need to get America working again,” Schmidt said. “We will secure our borders, make daily life more affordable for families, and prevent federal bureaucrats from over-regulating our lives.”

In addition to Schmidt, the other Republican candidates on the Aug. 6 ballot are Chad Young of Lawrence; Matt Ogle of Topeka; Shawn Tiffany of Delavan; and Jeff Kahrs of Topeka. The Democratic Party primary candidates are Nancy Boyda of Baldwin City and Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas.

Candidates in the Republican Party primary contests repeatedly emphasized how much they valued Trump’s leadership and policies.

Kahrs, who worked at a federal agency during Trump’s presidential term, has run an advertisement proclaiming, “Trump chose Jeff Kahrs.” The phrase comes from the fact that Kahrs was appointed a regional administrator at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after serving in the administration of Governor Sam Brownback.