Kansas Chamber endorses Derek Schmidt over Laura Kelly as 'best choice' for business

Attorney General Derek Schmidt picked up an endorsement Friday in the governor's race from the political arm of the Kansas Chamber.

It was largely expected that Kansas' largest business group — and one of the most prominent interest groups in the state — would back Schmidt, a Republican, over incumbent Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly.

The news comes days after the group held an Olathe forum where Schmidt and Kelly, as well as other candidates for statewide issue, voiced their views on issues pertaining to the business community.

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In a statement, Christie Kriegshauser, the Chamber PAC's senior director of political affairs, said the group "appreciates its working relationship" with Kelly but said Schmidt presents a better vision for the state.

"Derek Schmidt is a proven champion of Kansas job creators," Kriegshauser said. "He has fought against harmful and unnecessary regulations, stopped federal government overreach, and pushed to remove barriers to grow jobs and increase community investments."

In a lengthy statement, Kelly campaign spokesperson Lauren Fitzgerald praised the governor's record on the economy.

"Governor Kelly looks forward to working with the Chamber in her second term to continue growing the Kansas economy," she said.

The Chamber PAC didn't yet roll out its endorsement in other statewide races, including the attorney general's race, where longstanding disagreements with the Republican nominee, Kris Kobach, have raised open questions about the what the chamber will do.

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"It is important that Kansans have elected leaders who support an environment that doesn't hinder our businesses from competing across the country and around the world," said Alan Cobb, the Chamber's president and CEO. "Derek Schmidt understands the fundamental role business plays in the economic health of our state. He is the best choice for Kansas, its citizens, and its businesses."

In addition to the Chamber endorsement, Schmidt also earned the backing of the Kansas chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

"I'm proud to receive the support of the Chamber and NFIB, the strongest voices for Kansas job creators," Schmidt said in a statement. "Kansas can do so much better when it comes to job creation, workforce development, and wage growth — all of which have stagnated under Governor Kelly."

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Topeka and Hutchinson chambers praise Kelly in columns

The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce PAC, which made endorsements in local races last month, didn't make an endorsement in the governor's race. President Curtis Sneden said the Topeka Chamber PAC focuses only on local races.

While the local chamber has not endorsed Kelly, Sneden applauded her administration in a column published during the general election season.

He wrote in a Capital-Journal column last month that the Panasonic megaproject, a deal brokered by the Kelly administration, is "resounding validation that we are on the right track and our future is as bright as it has ever been."

"Kansas is storming back from the disruption caused by the pandemic," Sneden said in the column. "We have the lowest unemployment rate in the state’s recorded history (2.3%) and have been nationally recognized for the state's leadership in job creation and economic development."

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Topeka's chamber of commerce is not the only one that has publicly praised Kelly during campaign season.

Last month, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Debra Teufel lauded Kelly in a Hutchinson News column.

"For the second year in a row, the Kelly Administration was given a prestigious national award for leadership in job creation and economic development — a well-deserved honor given that Kansas has attracted more investment in the past 3.5 years than in the previous eight," Teufel wrote.

Teufel said the Hutchinson chamber does not have a PAC and does not endorse candidates. She said her column praised the Kelly administration because of its "solid track record" on economic development, which "would not be possible without bipartisan support in the Statehouse."

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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: Kansas Chamber endorses Derek Schmidt over Laura Kelly for governor