Democrat Jeanna Repass seeks to make Kansas history with secretary of state bid

Jeanna Repass, an Overland Park Democrat, announced her campaign for secretary of state Tuesday at the Statehouse, a history-making move despite what will likely be an uphill fight for the party.

Repass' campaign is history-making, as she is seeking to be the first woman of color to hold statewide office in Kansas. She is also likely to be the lone person of color seeking statewide office in the fall in the state.

Few Democrats have served as secretary of state, with only one member of the party winning election to the office since Kansas became a state in 1861.

Democrat Chris Biggs was also appointed by then Gov. Mark Parkinson to the office in 2010, though he lost handedly to Republican Kris Kobach later that year.

But Repass said she was running to serve as a sharp contrast to incumbent Secretary of State Scott Schwab, saying he was cut from the same cloth as Kobach, his predecessor, who has proven divisive.

"It's time to take the office of Secretary of State back to the people," Repass said. "It no longer needs to be a politicized office. It belongs to the people of Kansas to protect our right to vote."

Repass, a mother of three and former corporate officer, does not have any direct experience with election administration but pledged to get up to speed on the issues.

That includes seeking to enforce state law that would allow registered voters to cast a ballot at any precinct in their county of residence, provided the secretary of state established rules and regulations allowing for the practice.

Repass also noted she would seek to protect ballot drop boxes, which have come under fire from conservative legislators in recent months. A bill seeking to limit the practice is unlikely to advance this session, however.

She announced her candidacy in front of the Brown v. Board of Education mural in the statehouse on the anniversary of the historic decision, surrounded by Democrat elected officials.

"While other states and other sides fight over who can best appease the extreme base of their party, Jeanna rises through the fray to focus on what matters to Kansas," State Treasurer Lynn Rogers said. "Promoting election integrity, safeguarding free and fair elections, and ensuring access to the ballot box by all Kansans, who have a legal right to vote."

Schwab is in the midst of a primary tussle of his own, facing off against former Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown.

Brown, a conservative firebrand, has drawn attention for his promotion of unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, saying in fundraising emails that Schwab is part of the "Kansas deep state" and saying he has not done enough on election integrity issues.

He has joined, for instance, a national group of candidates that have attempted to undercut the 2020 election and ally themselves with former President Donald Trump.

Schwab has hit back with support from more conventional Republicans, including a rare endorsement from former Gov. Sam Brownback.

In a statement responding to Repass' candidacy, Schwab's campaign touted his work on election security issues, including legislation recently signed by Gov. Laura Kelly requiring ballots have a distinctive watermark.

"(Schwab) looks forward to a second term in office ensuring Kansas elections remain safe and secure," the statement said.

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Democrat Jeanna Repass announces run for Kansas secretary of state