Former President Donald Trump endorses GOP candidate Derek Schmidt in 2nd District primary

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is among GOP peers in six states who challenged President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan in federal court. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA — Former President Donald Trump endorsed former state Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the five-candidate Republican Party primary in the 2nd congressional district of Kansas.

Trump, who earned the GOP’s presidential nomination for the third time, said he was impressed Schmidt was reelected attorney general in 2016 and 2020 by wide margins.

“An American First patriot and a true friend of MAGA,” Trump said on social media, “Derek is now running for Congress, where he will work tirelessly to grow the economy, secure the border, uphold the rule of law, support our veterans, strengthen our military, defend our always-under-siege Second Amendment and champion our incredible farmers and ranchers.”

Trump said Schmidt had his “complete and total endorsement,” and declared that Schmidt would “never let you down.”

Five candidates entered the GOP primary to select a nominee to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican who decided against seeking reelection to Congress.

Schmidt, who has consistently led the Republican field by double digits in polling, said he was honored to receive Trump’s endorsement.

“His strength under adversity like we saw this month in Pennsylvania is exactly what we need to get America running again,” Schmidt said. “We will secure our border, make daily life more affordable for families and stop federal bureaucrats from overregulating our lives.”

In addition to Schmidt, the other Republican candidates on the Aug. 6 ballot are Chad Young, of Lawrence; Matt Ogle of Topeka, Shawn Tiffany of Delavan and Jeff Kahrs of Topeka. The Democratic Party primary candidates are Nancy Boyda of Baldwin City and Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas.

The commentary of candidates in the GOP primary has frequently touched on how much each was fond of Trump’s leadership and policies.

Kahrs, who worked at a federal agency during Trump’s presidential term, has produced advertising that proclaims “Trump chose Jeff Kahrs.” The line derives from the fact Kahrs was appointed a regional administrator in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after serving in the administration of Gov. Sam Brownback.