Kansas voters overwhelmingly support abortion rights Voter turnout in the Kansas primary exceeded expectations with voters on both sides of the aisle choosing to defend abortion rights. Cody Godwin, USA TODAY HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair debate is traditionally seen as the start of the general election — but in 2022, it was defined by an issue that has consumed Kansas for months: abortion. Held against the annual bacchanalia of fried foods and giant slides, the event marked the first time that Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP Attorney General candidate Derek Schmidt had a chance to challenge each other in person on a wide range of issues. The race has picked up steam in recent weeks after a relatively quiet summer, and that was reflected in Saturday’s rolling affair. Kelly and Schmidt’s supporters exchanged cheers, jeers and even expletives throughout the debate. But it was abortion that was once again the most prominent issue on display, with the two candidates engaging in the most protracted debate on the issue to date since the Aug. 2 vote to reject a measure that would have eroded state level protection of abortion rights. Kansas ballot measure: Kansas voters defend abortion rights in first ballot since Roe v. Wade Governor races: Why we’re looking at these 10 governor races in the 2022 midterms Schmidt supported the proposed constitutional amendment and quietly issued a statement about the vote, saying he was disappointed by the outcome but would respect the outcome, a sentiment he echoed Saturday. “The voters of Kansas have decided, their decision must be respected — that doesn’t mean the debate is over,” he said. “It will continue as before.” Kelly disagreed and pointed to the rightful defeat of the constitutional amendment as evidence. “I have no doubt that I stand with the vast majority of Kansans on the issue of a woman’s right to privacy when making her own medical decisions,” Kelly said. “I think 60 percent of Kansans said they don’t want this government overreach into people’s personal lives. And I’ll tell you something else: I’ve been consistent in my position on this issue since I entered the state Senate before since 18 years and I will remain consistent. The two also disagreed on the value of upholding the Kansas Supreme Court justices who issued the ruling that led to the abortion vote, a 2019 ruling that said the Kansas Constitution protects the right. Six of the high court justices are up for a stay vote in the fall. Kelly said unequivocally “yes” when asked if she would support keeping them. Schmidt said he would support some and not others, though he did not specify which he would like to not keep either during the debate or afterward, when he declined to answer questions from reporters. Abortion rights: With amendment vote in rearview mirror, how could abortion affect Kansas governor’s race?
Kansas economy key part of discussion for Kelly, Schmidt
The candidates focused on their key campaign messages during the 90-minute debate, but were also willing to trade fights with each other, more so than at any point in the campaign so far. Kelly outlined what she believes are improvements in state government since taking over from former governors Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer and tried to connect Schmidt to Brownback’s legacy. Schmidt, in turn, downplayed Kelly’s work and said her efforts only helped increase red tape in everything from child care to agriculture. “Both candidates hit hard on the theme of their campaigns,” Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University, said after the debate. While the abortion stir came late in the debate, the previous hour focused heavily on two key issues: the economy and education. National conservatives have zeroed in on concerns about the economy and the workforce in the midterm elections, and the issue, both of agriculture and the broader national economy, is expected to be a top concern for voters in November. Schmidt said the state has not fully recovered all the jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and also tried to connect Kelly to national trends of rising inflation and costs. “When Governor Kelly suggests that everything is fine and everything is working, I suggest she go talk to real Kansans who are trying to hire people,” he said. In Kansas, the labor force participation rate remains slightly below pre-pandemic levels, and the state has regained about 82% of nonfarm payrolls lost between March and April 2020. Kansas Economy: How is the Kansas economy? You will see a wide range of ratings in the skipper ads While that number is generally considered the standard economists use, Kelly argues it’s disingenuous to exclude farm jobs and other jobs in nonprofits and other industries that would help show the state has gained jobs. She also promoted workforce and economic growth, arguing that her administration has helped boost the state’s economic growth prospects, pointing to projects like the proposed multibillion-dollar Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant for DeSoto. And Kelly pointed to efforts to eliminate them through the state food sales tax cut, which passed the Legislature in 2022 but won’t go into effect until next year, with a full reduction until 2025. Republicans attacked Kelly for vetoing earlier bills that included a food sales tax cut, although that was combined with other policy proposals she opposed. “My opponent wants to make the case that she’s the savior of Kansas taxpayers,” Schmidt said. “I ask you this: When you go home, pull out your last receipt and see what your sales tax looks like. It’s the same as the day she took office.” Kelly said she was pleased with the tax cut, but wanted lawmakers to speed up the cut to help shoppers deal with inflation. “I will put a bill on their desk in January to implement the elimination immediately,” he said. Who are the candidates?: Laura Kelly calls herself the “governor of education.” Derek Schmidt says she broke her promises in Kansas.
Candidates face special treatment, COVID-19 lockdowns
Education has long been one of the top issues in the struggle. Kelly has often touted fully funding schools under her watch, though that’s because lawmakers followed requirements set by the Kansas Supreme Court. The candidates were pressed on the most pressing funding issue: special education. Public school advocates attacked lawmakers for failing to meet the required funding of the 92 percent of special education costs not covered by the federal government. And while Kelly insisted the schools were still fully funded, she acknowledged there was work to be done. “I’ll keep working towards it,” he said. “I will always work to fully fund our schools and keep us out of court so we can focus on the important things we need to do in schools.” Schmidt, meanwhile, has focused on Kelly’s decision to close schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and said he would sign into law a so-called parents’ bill of rights that would give parents more access to his material curriculum in schools. “Fully-funded schools can only work if you don’t turn kids out of them after they’re fully funded,” Schmidt said. Roe v. Wade: Abortion rights face test in Kansas, first of its kind since Roe fell
The debate begins trying to sway middle-of-the-road voters
Notably, neither Libertarian Seth Cordell nor Dennis Pyle, who will appear on the ballot in November as an independent, participated in the debate. Pile, a state senator from Hiawatha, called both Schmidt and Kelly too liberal and was outraged that he was not included in the debate, saying organizers did not reach out to his campaign to see if he was qualified to appear. Nevertheless, Pyle sat in the front row of the debate stage, despite some gentle — or not so gentle — ribbing from Republican attendees. “I just want to be here to talk and I want to participate in the sense that I can see them,” he told reporters. “I’d be really surprised if you see any meaningful questionnaires coming back into the voting records of these two.” The undecideds in the crowd appeared to be few, but the polls did not show a clear front-runner, indicating a turnaround. Both campaigns therefore stepped up their efforts to reach out to voters, particularly undecided moderates. But the vociferous debate, Beatty said, was unlikely to win over the undecided, and he said opinion will be shaped more broadly by television ads and other messages during the race’s final eight weeks. “Moderate, middle-of-the-road voters might be put off by this kind of discussion,” he said. “They may not have gotten much out of it, but they will be affected by the campaign ahead.” There was one Schmidt in attendance who isn’t sure who he’ll vote for when he heads to the polls on Nov. 8 — Jim Schmidt, a farmer from Windom who said he considers himself exactly the “middle of the road” voter, and the two candidates were shouting for. While Schmidt watched the conversation with his wife, he said he didn’t expect her to change his mind. His focus was on selecting a candidate committed to the economy, rural broadband and workforce development in his corner of rural McPherson County. “I want someone who will take care of everyone and not tear people down,” she said. Andrew Bahl is a senior state reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 443-979-6100. Jason Tidd is a reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Tidd.
