FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Emma O’Brien
emma@kansasdems.org
September 21, 2022
NEW POLL: GOV. KELLY LEADING DEREK SCHMIDT IN RACE FOR GOVERNOR
Topeka, KS – Today, a new poll from Emerson College Polling-The Hill found Governor Laura Kelly leading Derek Schmidt 45 to 43 percent. Governor Kelly not only has strong support from Democratic voters, but leads with Independent voters at 46 percent compared to Schmidt’s 30 percent.
“This latest poll signals the growing movement of support for Governor Laura Kelly’s campaign for re-election and the excitement behind her heading into November,” said Emma O’Brien, spokesperson for the KDP. “It also proves the struggles Derek Schmidt is facing – especially with voters within his own party – as he’s forced to duke it out with lifelong Republican and current state Senator Dennis Pyle. While the two of them fight, Governor Laura Kelly is committed to delivering for all Kansans regardless of party.”
According to reporting on the poll from the Sunflower State Journal, while 91 percent of members of her own party support Governor Kelly for re-election, only 74 percent of Republicans are backing Schmidt. While Schmidt is hemorrhaging support from members of his own party from both Governor Kelly – who has the support of at least 15 percent of Republicans – and conservative Dennis Pyle, Schmidt’s message is not resonating with Kansas voters of any party.
This August, Schmidt barely received 80 percent of the vote in what was considered an uncontested primary against an unknown, fringe candidate with a lengthy and recent arrest record that managed to get 20 percent of the vote without campaigning. On the heels of Dennis Pyle’s foray into the race, the Kansas Republican Party sent out “loyalty pledges” to party officials “mandating they exclusively support Republican candidates.” During the last fundraising period, Schmidt announced raising $700,000 – less than half of Governor Kelly’s haul of $1.5 million.
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