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Kris Kobach on Government Reform

 

 


Tough prove-your-citizenship rule for new voters

Some of [Kobach's past political] baggage comes from Kobach advocating strict immigration laws years before Donald Trump ran for president in 2016 and upsetting not only immigrant rights advocates but GOP-leaning business and agricultural groups. Kobach also pushed the idea that droves of people could be voting illegally and championed a tough prove-your-citizenship rule for new Kansas voters, only to see the federal courts strike it down and order the state to pay voting rights attorneys $1.4 million.

Kobach served as co-chairman of Trump's short-lived presidential advisory commission on "election integrity" and promoted Trump's lies about widespread voter fraud. At the time, The Associated Press reported that Kobach oversaw an election system in Kansas that threw out at least three times as many ballots in the 2016 election as any similarly sized state did, fueling concerns about massive voter suppression should its practices become the national standard.

Source: Yahoo News on 2022 Kansas Gubernatorial race , Oct 14, 2022

Found in contempt for checking voter citizenship to register

A federal judge has struck down a Kansas voter citizenship law that Secretary of State Kris Kobach had personally defended. The judge also ordered Kobach, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, to take more hours of continuing legal education after he was found in contempt and was frequently chided during the trial over missteps.

In an 118-page ruling, the judge ordered a halt to the state's requirement that people provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. The decision holds the potential to make registration easier as the August and November elections approach.

Kobach was ordered not to enforce the proof of citizenship law and its accompanying regulations. Kobach's office said he will appeal the ruling. At trial, Kobach said the law was working. Since 2000, 129 non-citizens have either registered or attempted to register. Many of them were blocked from registering by the proof of citizenship law, he said.

Source: Wichita Eagle on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race , Jun 18, 2018

Contempt of court for blocking new voter registration

US District Judge Julie Robinson ruled Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach was in contempt of court for failing to comply with her orders in a lawsuit over the state's voter registration law. Robinson ordered Kobach to pay for attorney fees to the ACLU for litigating the contempt motion.

Kobach's office refused to update language on its website suggesting that new voter applicants may not be able to vote after November 2016 elections. Kobach also failed to follow through on a promise to Robinson that counties would send postcards notifying voters they could participate in elections, even if they failed to show a birth certificate or other documents when they registered.

Kobach for years has championed the need for strict voter registration laws as a way of keeping noncitizens from voting. As a candidate, Kobach rallies supporters by telling them he likes makes the ACLU unhappy. "As soon as the ACLU sues, I know we have made the right decision," Kobach said during a debate last week.

Source: Topeka Capital-Journal on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race , Apr 12, 2018

Tighten restrictions on voting

Kobach has advocated for voter identification and proof of citizenship voter registration laws. He spoke at a 2015 writer's workshop organized by The Social Contract Press, which the Southern Poverty Law Center says is a white nationalist publisher. Kobach described the Press in 2015 as "a think tank for pro-enforcement immigration policies" and said it was ridiculous that the Center viewed it and other opponents of illegal immigration as white nationalists.
Source: Wichita Eagle on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race , Aug 16, 2017

Vice-chair of Presidential Commission on Election Integrity

Kentucky's Secretary of State said she will not comply with broad federal request for voter registration information. Alison Grimes said, "Not on my watch are we going to be turning over something that's left to the states to run--to the federal government." Kentucky is among at least 24 states that have either wholly or in part rejected a request by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity to hand over key voter registration information as part of its investigation into President Trump's claims of widespread illegal voting.

The request, sent by the panel's vice chairman, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, asks states to provide voters' names, dates of birth, driver's license numbers and other information.

Source: The Hill coverage of 2018 Kansas Governor race , Jun 30, 2017

Fight widespread voter fraud with strict voting laws

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R), who has championed some of the strictest voting laws in the nation, announced a campaign for governor. Kobach was recently appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as vice chairman of a new federal commission that will investigate the prevalence of voter fraud.

During his 6-year tenure as secretary of state, Kobach has repeatedly made claims of widespread voter fraud. He crafted a law that requires Kansas voters to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, to vote. He has so far secured nine convictions for election crimes.

Kobach has repeatedly said the law ensures the integrity of Kansas elections, but opponents, including the ACLU, say that the law makes it harder for rightful voters to participate in elections.

The law blocked thousands of potential voters from participating in the state's last gubernatorial election, but it could not be fully enforced in 2016 under orders of federal and state judges.

Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race , Jun 8, 2017

Strongly supports Electoral College, according to AFA survey.

Kobach opposes the AFA survey question on abolishing the Electoral College

The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'The Electoral College should be abolished'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): `Grounded in God; rooted in research`; they `thoroughly investigate candidates`; when they cannot `evaluate with confidence, they receive an `Insufficient` rating` (& we exclude)

Source: AFA Survey 20AFA-16 on Sep 11, 2020

Other governors on Government Reform: Kris Kobach on other issues:
KS Gubernatorial:
Chase LaPorte
Derek Schmidt
Jeff Colyer
KS Senatorial:
Barbara Bollier
Barry Grissom
Dave Lindstrom
Jake LaTurner
Jerry Moran
Joan Farr
Mark Holland
Michael Soetaert
Pat Roberts
Susan Wagle
Gubernatorial races 2025:
New Jersey Governor:
    Democratic primary June 10, 2025:
  • Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present)
  • Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present)
  • Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017)
  • Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019); elected Nov. 4.
  • Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022)

    Republican primary June 10, 2025:
  • Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022)
  • Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021 & 2025); lost general election
  • Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew

Virginia Governor:
    Democratic primary June 17 cancelled:
  • Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025; elected Nov. 4.
  • Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.)

    Republican primary June 17 cancelled:
  • Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025; lost general election
  • Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot
  • Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent
  • Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited
Mayoral races 2025:
NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:
  • Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council
  • Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021 (Independent candidate).
  • Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assembly, 2021-2025 (Democratic nominee); elected Nov. 4.
    Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4:
  • Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent
  • Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney
  • Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee; CEO of the Guardian Angels

Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)
    Non-partisan general election Nov. 4; runoff Dec. 2:
  • Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education
  • Steven Fulop, outgoing Mayor (2013-2025)
  • Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997)
  • Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004)
  • James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017)
  • Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023)

Oakland CA Mayor
    Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025:
  • Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025)
  • Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election
  • Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024
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