Top Republicans keep visiting Kansas and encouraging people to vote

TOPEKA — Before Vice President JD Vance was finished speaking Monday in Topeka, Republicans announced President Donald Trump would make his second visit to the state in as many weeks. 

The White House has made itself visible in Kansas, drawing thousands to Olathe, the Wichita area and Topeka, and Trump is expected to do the same Saturday morning in Salina.

Top Republicans in the Trump administration have cycled through Kansas in the lead-up to the Nov. 3 midterm election, mostly to campaign for U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall and other Republicans running for public office, including gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson.

“We’re here to get these guys elected,” said U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ahead of Vance taking the stage Monday.

It’s a numbers game. Of Kansas’ more than 2,027,500 registered voters, nearly 902,000 are registered Republicans, and more than 521,000 are registered Democrats. Nearly 579,000 are unaffiliated. 

Early voter turnout is up by nearly 50% compared to the 2022 midterm elections, according to IKE Lab, an elections data and analysis service from two Wichita State University professors. 

Compared to the 2024 election, however, turnout this year is down by nearly 30%, particularly among Republicans.

In late October 2024, more than 170,600 Republicans had already turned out to vote while more than 120,500 Democrats had turned out. 

But the lagging Republican turnout hasn’t caused Republican candidates to shy away from stumping across the state. 

“If there’s a big blue wave, it’s going to crash into a big red wall in Kansas,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who is running against Democrat Chris Mann, at the rally.

Vance directly addressed undecided voters Monday. He acknowledged gas prices are up, but blamed it on foreign leaders in the Middle East, who he said drive the price of gas up each time one “throws a tantrum.”

He asked the audience: “In one week, are we going to tell the country that Kansas supports America first? Are we going to support a candidate that is fighting for our faith instead of against it? Are we going to support a candidate fighting for American sovereignty?”

Marshall faces a competitive reelection bid for the seat he’s held for a term, facing the Rev. Adam Hamilton, a Democratic Methodist pastor in the Kansas City area.

Marshall has struggled since the primary to outrun scandal. He has faced criticism for medical debt collection practices during his time as an OB-GYN in central Kansas, his time spent in Florida and alleged misuse of public funds.

“I’m asking you to send me back for one more term,” Marshall told the crowd Monday. “Six more years.”

Vance urged attendees not to judge Marshall by what he says but by his actions.

“I don’t want you to just judge him by what he says, because — of course he’s got great ideas, and he says them very well — I want you to judge him by what you couldn’t possibly see, but I do,” Vance said.

He said what’s more important is how Marshall has behaved and acted and “how he fights when the cameras aren’t on.”

Trump, Vance, Marshall, Masterson and others have encouraged their crowds to vote, bring their friends to the polls and pretend Trump is on the ballot.

“The only votes that count are the ones cast,” said U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, who is running for reelection in the 2nd District against veteran and veterinarian Don Coover, at the Topeka rally.

Marshall and Burgum told the crowd their vote “defends freedom” and the political trajectory of Kansas.

“In all of these races, and particularly the Senate race, it’s going to defend the direction of this country, and that changes the direction of the world,” Burgum said. “That’s how much your vote matters.”