Kansas politicians and political experts react to attempted Trump assassination

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Many Americans were shocked as they learned of an attempt on Former President Donald Trump’s life.

“We should be reflecting and thinking about our actions and why something like this would happen,” said Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins, “why it gets to that point.”

One question on many minds is how the 2024 presidential campaign carries on after such an event.

“Is this going to change the campaign? Is this going to change who wins and who loses? It’s way too early to tell,” said Dr. Neal Allen, Wichita State University Associate Professor of Political Science.

Allen says the full impact hasn’t been felt yet on the campaign trail, but he does not anticipate a major change.

“Even the assassination attempt fits pretty well into the kind of image Donald Trump is presenting,” said Allen, “you know he presents strength, certainty of purpose, Trump usually does that with lots of words and yesterday he did it with one.”

How voters will respond at the polls is just as uncertain. Kansas Republicans think the assassination attempt could energize their supporters.

“It wasn’t about somebody shooting Trump because we knew what happened, but rather this is going to cause people to put their heels in the sand,” said Kansas District 94 Representative Leo Delperdang, “I think it’s going to bring a lot more voters out on the Republican side.”

But not everyone is as convinced.

“There are unfortunately a whole lot of shootings in America and it’s entirely possible that you’re going to have hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of people who will hear this news and they’ll say he got winged in the ear,” said Friends University Professor of Political Science Dr. Russell Arben Fox, “I don’t think it’s likely, but it is not beyond the realm of possibility.”

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