Latest news with #DanedriHerbert
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas AG Kris Kobach running for reelection, touting low crime and Biden lawsuits
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is running for reelection with a campaign message focused on lowered crime rates, lawsuits against former President Joe Biden's administration and an immigration enforcement partnership with President Donald Trump's administration. While he has not formally announced a reelection campaign, Kobach's campaign spokesperson, Danedri Herbert, confirmed to The Capital-Journal on July 30 that he is running for reelection. The same day, Democrat Chris Mann announced he was running for attorney general. That could set up a rematch of the 2022 election, which was the tightest race of any statewide office. Kobach got 50.8% of the vote and Mann got 49.2%, or a separation of nearly 16,000 votes. Kobach lives in Douglas County with his wife, and they have five daughters. He grew up in Topeka before attending Harvard University, Oxford University and Yale Law School. Kris Kobach statement hits on crime rate, Biden lawsuits, immigration In response to Mann's announcement, Kobach's campaign touted accomplishments from his first term. "Kris Kobach has delivered," Herbert said in a statement. "Under Kris Kobach's leadership, the Kansas crime rate has dropped to the lowest point in 20 years. As a result, Kansans are safer than they have ever been in the last 20 years." Kobach's campaign credited "his law-and order approach" and said "Kansas crime rates dropped far more than the rest of the nation." Kansas Bureau of Investigation crime statistics include a total crime index, which is a count of both violent and property crimes. The 2024 index was the lowest of any year since at least 2003, which is the furthest back the KBI's online reports go. The total crime index is a stronger indicator of property crime, which far outnumbers the amount of violent crime in the state. The violent crime rate has also declined during Kobach's term after peaking in 2020. More: Kansas's crime rate dropped in 2024, but Shawnee County exceeds state averages In the 2022 election, Kobach campaigned on suing Biden and promised to set up a division dedicated to suing the Democratic president. Kobach, who is now the chair of the Republican Attorneys General Association, led or joined a multitude of lawsuits against the federal government. "As Kansas Attorney General, Kobach sued the Biden administration dozens of times," his campaign's news release said. "He specifically led 12 lawsuits to stop the Biden administration from breaking the law." The campaign touted "victories in court that Kobach won" against Biden. The cases cited include one with a nationwide injunction from a federal judge in Kansas blocking student loan forgiveness, a Kobach-led case in South Dakota with a 19-state injunction on Obamacare for immigrants in the country illegally and a Kansas judge's injunction with nationwide implications barring Title IX sex discrimination protections at schools and universities from being extended to transgender people. Now with Trump in office, Kobach is working with the president's administration on immigration enforcement using a 287(g) agreement. Kobach's campaign said "Kansans would not be as safe if Chris Mann were attorney general right now," in part because Mann "would not have signed a 287(g) agreement." Kobach's campaign also touted elimination of the fee for concealed carry permits, because "no one should have to pay the state to exercise a constitutional right." More: From suing Biden to working with Trump, Kobach and Republican AGs have new role Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@ Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kris Kobach running for reelection as Kansas attorney general in 2026
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here are the women who will lead the Republican and Democratic parties in Kansas
Kansas Republicans have elected a new party chair to lead the GOP into the 2026 election cycle, while Democrats reelected their party chair. Republicans met over the weekend in Goodland for their annual convention. Meanwhile, Democrats met in Topeka for their annual convention, known as Washington Days. Part of the state conventions was electing party leadership, who will lead their parties in the next election cycle, which features an open gubernatorial race in 2026 and congressional midterms. Republicans elected Danedri Herbert as chair. "It is an honor to lead the Republican Party of the greatest state in the nation," Herbert said in a statement to The Capital-Journal. "Kansas has long been the heart of the conservative movement, and our party is committed to continuing the fight for limited government and individual liberty. Over the next two years, I look forward to working with Kansas Republicans to grow our party, to stand firm for conservative values, and most importantly, to elect a Republican Governor in 2026." Herbert, who is a spokesperson for Attorney General Kris Kobach, replaces outgoing chair Mike Brown. Republicans also elected conservative talk radio host Andy Hooser as vice chair, Roger Lomshek as treasurer and Amanda Schlyer as secretary. Democrats reelected party chair Jeanna Repass. "Democrats are ready to fight for the shared values of Kansans during this time of uncertainty in our state and country," Repass said in a news release. "Unelected billionaires and their friends are cutting jobs and funding that has a direct impact on veterans, farmers, and other working families. These are not Kansas values and we will be unwavering as we stand up for every Kansan." Delegates also reelected vice chair Shaun Junkins and elected former Sen. Usha Reddi as treasurer and Nik Cabrini as secretary. Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@ Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Republicans and Democrats elect state party chairs
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE signs deal with top Kansas law enforcement agencies
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas' attorney general and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) have signed a deal to assist federal immigration forces in the Sunflower State. Danedri Herbert with the Kansas Office of the Attorney General said in a press release on Monday, Feb. 17 that Attorney General Kris Kobach and the KBI have signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This will allow KBI agents to work alongside Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove immigrants who are residing in Kansas illegally. A limited number of KBI agents will receive ICE training that authorizes the agents to arrest immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, serve and execute warrants for some immigration violations and issue immigration detainers, according to the press release. Herbert said a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes states and political subdivisions of a state to enter into agreements like this. Topeka named one of the worst state capitals to live in: WalletHub study 'The KBI is pleased to have another tool at our disposal to get known criminal offenders out of our communities,' KBI Director Tony Mattivi said. 'This agreement will not shift KBI investigative priorities but will allow us to more swiftly achieve justice in cases in which the KBI currently focuses – major violent crimes, crimes committed against children, and targeting drug trafficking organizations.' Kobach touted this move as a benefit for Kansas as it will help law enforcement agencies deport 'dangerous criminals or gang members.' Kansas is only the second state in the nation to take this action to deputize state law enforcement to help enforce immigration laws under President Donald Trump, according to the Kansas Office of the Attorney General. Man gets 22 years in prison after deadly 2022 Topeka shooting For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
