Democratic Kansas governor will help elect moderate Republicans and Democrats with new PAC

The Democratic governor of Kansas has launched a political action committee to help elect moderate Republicans and Democrats.

The Middle of the Road PAC's name pays homage to Gov. Laura Kelly's reelection campaign, which featured television ads, speeches and other materials presenting her as middle of the road politically. The PAC's website displays a photo of Kelly walking down the middle of a road.

"I've always been middle-of-the-road," Kelly said in a statement from the PAC. "That's how I've governed – by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to meet in the middle. Kansans expect their leaders to work together and pass common-sense policies like expanding Medicaid, funding our schools, and cutting taxes to help our families. This PAC will support Kansas leaders who put politics aside and work with me to deliver policies that help families thrive."

Kelly's middle-of-the-road moniker has been a source of criticism from Republicans and Democrats.

Senate President Ty Masterson has previously described Kelly as "walking down the far-left lane, if not the ditch outside of that." House Minority Leader Vic Miller previously said, "It's very dangerous to stand in the middle of the road" and urged the governor "to move a little bit to the left."

The PAC will publicly endorse moderate candidates, regardless of party, running for Statehouse races in the 2024 elections. While still a whole legislative session away, the 2024 elections could reset the balance of power for Kelly's last two years in office.

Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate, enabling conservatives to override Kelly's record-setting number of vetoes. But the small handful of moderates have occasionally sided with Democrats, preventing the GOP from overriding all of Kelly's vetoes.

Policies advocated by the PAC include Medicaid expansion, tax cuts "for working families and seniors" and policies "that grow our economy and create jobs."

Medicaid expansion has long been a priority of Kelly and fellow Democrats with some support from moderate Republicans, but GOP leadership has been ardently opposed. Both parties have found areas of agreement on tax cuts, but Kelly has been particularly opposed to the GOP push for a flat income tax, resulting in a veto of a broader tax relief package.

Economic growth and job creation also find bipartisan support, but with a difference of opinion on how to go about doing so, particularly on Kelly's continued push for incentives for megaprojects and the appropriate level of government regulation, such as in the child care industry.

The PAC launched Monday is based in Overland Park and its treasurer is Sheryl Spalding, who was a former Republican state representative who endorsed Kelly in her reelection campaign.

Jason Alatidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jtidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Laura Kelly forms Middle of the Road PAC to elect Kansas moderates