By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor
Good morning and howdy doo, neighbor. It’s nice to see you. We’ve collected a batch of stories and a dash of commentary this fine Thursday, and it just might hit the spot if you’ve been hankering for some updates. Onward!
Anna Kaminski / Kansas Reflector
Kansas poll of likely Democratic voters favors Holscher for governor, Hamilton for U.S. Senate
TOPEKA — A poll of Democratic and left-leaning independent voters completed seven weeks before the August primary places Cindy Holscher as frontrunner in the governor’s race and Adam Hamilton leading in the campaign to pick a nominee for U.S. Senate.
The poll of 1,000 Kansans was conducted by Change Research, a San Francisco company engaged with Democratic or progressive candidates and groups. The June 11-15 poll with a margin of error of plus or minus 3% was commissioned by Civic Clarity, a nonprofit operating the Capitol Bee news entity in Kansas.
The snapshot among registered Democrats and independent voters eligible to take part in the open Democratic primary revealed 44% had yet to declare a preference in the three-way Democratic governor’s race and 55% were at a loss in terms of the 11 Democratic candidates competing for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Roger Marshall, who is seeking reelection to a second term.
Holscher has been engaged in a campaign with fellow Johnson County state Sen. Ethan Corson, as well as newcomer Curt Skoog, who serves as mayor of Overland Park. In the survey, Holscher received 37% of support from participants while Corson possessed 10% and Skoog had 7%. Skoog filed as an official candidate at the June 1 deadline, while Holscher and Corson have been on the campaign trail since 2025.
Grace Hills / Kansas Reflector
Trump’s DOJ sues Kansas to block in-state tuition for immigrant students
TOPEKA — President Donald Trump’s U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Kansas on Wednesday, asking a federal judge to tear down the law that allows college students without lawful immigration status to receive in-state tuition.
Getty Images
OPINION
Politicians love ‘affordability’ rhetoric. But it hasn’t offered path to urban prosperity in Kansas.
By Chase Billingham
Over the past several years, “affordability” has become a leading priority in American electoral politics. Sustained inflation during the Biden administration was a key issue during the 2024 presidential campaign, contributing to the defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris and the return to the presidency of Donald Trump.
Another Kansas revenue department official announces departure
TOPEKA — The first female director of the Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division will retire at the end of the month, she announced Wednesday, ending her tenure as the longest-serving director in its history.
Lunch with ‘mad as a murder hornet’ Trump and US Senate GOP fails to heal divisions
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans walked into a lunch with the president on Wednesday looking for ways to unify, but they left the closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill as fractured as ever about policy goals.
States that won’t obey Trump order will have their mail ballots halted, postmaster says
The U.S. Postal Service won’t deliver mail ballots in states that refuse to turn over lists of voters under a proposed rule, the agency’s chief executive said Wednesday, angering Democrats who warn the decision will disenfranchise voters.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6 p.m. June 25, Clint Bowyer Community Building in Emporia. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
1 p.m. July 11, South Branch Library in Kansas City, Kansas. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone joins a panel discussion: "Elected vs Appointed: Inform Your Choice." Hosts: Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, and El Centro.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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