Sen. Dinah Sykes, Democrat representing Kansas Senate District 21. File photo.
Each week, we provide Shawnee Mission area legislators the opportunity to share their thoughts about what’s happening in the state capitol. Rep. Rui Xu, Rep. Jo Ella Hoye and Sen. Dinah Sykes are scheduled to send updates this week.
Below is the submission from Democratic State Sen. Dinah Sykes of Senate District 21.
The final stretch of the 2021 legislative session is upon us, and Republican leadership has promised fireworks for the wrap-up session. Why seek opportunities for compromise with Gov. Kelly (and Democratic legislators representing their constituents) when these politicians can use their power to feed conspiracy theories, take away civil rights and undermine the governor ahead of the 2022 election?
GOP Kansas attorney general launches campaign for governor
JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
March 9, 2021
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt launched his campaign for governor on Tuesday after weeks of heightened visibility for the three-term Republican amid the GOP-controlled Legislature s debates over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Schmidt, 53, is the first major Republican to formally enter the race against Kelly in 2022, though former GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer on Friday signaled plans to run by naming a granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower as the treasurer for “our campaign.”
Top Republican lawmakers said they haven t intentionally been trying to boost Schmidt s visibility by pushing legislation that would give the attorney general a check on the governor s power during future emergencies. Schmidt has clashed with Kelly during the pandemic, including by objecting to her unsuccessful atte