Gov. Laura Kelly backs Kansas Democrat for US House, wades into Iowa governor’s race

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly issued the anticipated endorsement Wednesday of a fellow Kansas Democrat campaigning for U.S. House and unexpectedly ventured into the Iowa gubernatorial contest to oppose one of her “constituents.”

The two-term governor from Topeka urged voters Nov. 3 to support Don Coover, a U.S. Army veteran, veterinarian and rancher from Galesburg. He’s campaigning for the 2nd District seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt.

“Kansans deserve leaders who work hard, listen to Kansans and show up ready to get to work on day one, and that’s Don Coover,” Kelly said. “He’ll put Kansans first, not special interests or big donors, and work with both parties to get things done.”

Coover said he was honored to receive Kelly’s blessing and admired her record of placing Kansans ahead of partisan politics.

“I’ll take that same approach to Washington,” he said.

Schmidt celebrated an endorsement by the Kansas State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents thousands of law enforcement officers. He was previously endorsed by Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association and National Rifle Association.

“In Congress, I’ll continue working to give law enforcement the tools and resources they need, protect those who protect us and keep Kansas communities safe,” Schmidt said.

Meanwhile, Kelly took to social media to support Democrat Rob Sand, who is competing against Republican Zach Lahn in the race for Iowa governor. A point of contention has been a revelation that Lahn voted in Kansas elections during 2018, 2020 and 2022 before registering in October 2024 to vote in Iowa. Another campaign topic has been Lahn’s frequent trips to visit his children in Kansas.

“Imagine my surprise when I learned that one of my constituents is running for governor,” Kelly said. “Not here in his home state of Kansas, but two states over in Iowa. Now, generally, I support Kansans. I was even proud to see Zach Lahn voted here in ’18, ’20 and ’22. I hope he voted for me in the Kansas governor’s race. But in the Iowa governor’s race, I’m supporting the Iowan.”

“Zach, there are no hard feelings, but it is time to come back to Kansas,” she said. “As they say, there’s no place like home.”

Lahn graduated from high school in Iowa before attending college in Colorado and working on political campaigns in Colorado and Montana. During the gubernatorial race in Iowa, Lahn said his official residence was a farm near Belle Plaine, Iowa.

He moved to Wichita nearly a decade ago to help launch a private school financed by the son and daughter-in-law of billionaire Charles Koch. With millions of dollars from the Koch family and backing of Chase and Annie Koch, the school opened in 2018. Annie Koch and Lahn divorced their spouses and married each other, which coincided with signs of financial stress at the school known as Wonder. The Lahns loaned the school at least $4.5 million.

Lahn said he returned to Iowa in 2023, but children in his blended family stayed in Wichita. The Des Moines Register reported that Lahn, a licensed pilot, flew from Iowa to Kansas 37 times from October 2025 to May 2026.

During the Tuesday debate in Iowa between Lahn and Sand, the issue of Lahn’s residency was raised.

“I have a blended family, and they split time,” Lahn said. “And I’m gonna tell you right now, I am not going to be intimidated on this.”