Kansas
Missouri again votes to increase Kansas City police funding
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Voters across Missouri are once again deciding on a big funding issue for the police department in Kansas City.
It’s Amendment 4. Voters decided on it two years ago. But in April, the Missouri Supreme Court ordered the state to run the vote again following a lawsuit form Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
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Amendment 4 passed pretty overwhelmingly two years ago and amendment supporters seemed confident it would again.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled after the vote back in 2022 the ballot measure was misleading because it said it wouldn’t increase city spending. Now it says it could cost the city up to $38 million a year but also points out the city is already funding the department at what that new minimum level would be of 25% instead of 20.
Lucas has previously said the amendment hurts the city’s ability to work with police on creative solutions and is against anything that means more state control of local policing.
The Missouri lawmaker who first proposed the amendment in 2022 after the city had been looking to move millions in police funding into other crime prevention programs argues Kansas City has local control with KC residents on the police board.
“What the mayor wants is political control of the police department to rest within City Hall and I think the last thing we need is a bunch of woke politicians in City Hall defunding our police department. So I’m comfortable with the structure we have right now and I hope we keep it into the future,” said Missouri Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville).
See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri
Other than the mayor, the board of police commissioners positions are selected by the governor.
Another vocal opponent of the amendment Tuesday has been MORE2, saying they aren’t against police funding, but against people who don’t live here deciding how the city should spend its money.
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The race has been called for the Republican primary in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
Former Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, was declared the winner of the GOP primary race on Tuesday.
The seat is currently represented by 36-year-old Rep. Jake LaTurner, who left it open after announcing he would not be seeking re-election this cycle.
POLLING GURU NATE SILVER CHANGES HIS PREDICTION FROM TRUMP ELECTORAL VICTORY TO ‘TOSS-UP’
Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., is not seeking re-election this year, leaving the seat in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional open. (CQ-Roll Call)
“An America First Patriot and a true friend of MAGA, 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 wrote in a Truth Social post endorsing Schmidt. “Derek Schmidt has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The primary saw a large pool of candidates, including former Health and Human Services official Jeff Kahrs, Michael Ogle, Shawn Tiffany, and Chad Young.
Trump-endorsed Republican congressional candidate Derek Schmidt. (Derek Schmidt for Congress)
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The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan handicapper, reported that the seat has been held “Solid Republican” for the last 30 years.
Janie JarrettJ. JarrettJarrett
Paul RogersP. RogersRogers
Dale HelwigD. HelwigHelwig
Melesia RhodesM. RhodesRhodes
Kenneth CollinsK. CollinsCollins*incumbent
Jordan MetcalfJ. MetcalfMetcalf
Chuck SmithC. SmithSmith*incumbent
Joshua JonesJ. JonesJones
Carrie BarthC. BarthBarth*incumbent
Samantha Poetter ParshallS. Poetter ParshallPoetter Parshall*incumbent
Vicki PribbleV. PribblePribble
Dan GoddardD. GoddardGoddard*incumbent
Pam ShernukP. ShernukShernuk
Chris CroftC. CroftCroft*incumbent
Fred GardnerF. GardnerGardner*incumbent
Zachary HawkinsZ. HawkinsHawkins
Suzanne WikleS. WikleWikle
Ron BryceR. BryceBryce*incumbent
Doug BlexD. BlexBlex*incumbent
Edgar ChrismanE. ChrismanChrisman
Duane DrogeD. DrogeDroge*incumbent
Dennis MillerD. MillerMiller*incumbent
Charlotte EsauC. EsauEsau
Allison HouglandA. HouglandHougland*incumbent
Linda FeatherstonL. FeatherstonFeatherston*incumbent
Jo Ella HoyeJ. HoyeHoye*incumbent
Cindy NeighborC. NeighborNeighbor*incumbent
Robert WhitmanR. WhitmanWhitman
Stephanie Sawyer ClaytonS. Sawyer ClaytonSawyer Clayton*incumbent
Mark HermesM. HermesHermes
Anthony OrwickA. OrwickOrwick
Mari-Lynn PoskinM. PoskinPoskin*incumbent
Jerry CharltonJ. CharltonCharlton
Jerry StogsdillJ. StogsdillStogsdill*incumbent
Lindsay VaughnL. VaughnVaughn*incumbent
Susan RuizS. RuizRuiz*incumbent
Jarrod OusleyJ. OusleyOusley*incumbent
Dale RedickD. RedickRedick
Greg SchoofsG. SchoofsSchoofs
Chip VanHoudenC. VanHoudenVanHouden
David BensonD. BensonBenson
Sean TarwaterS. TarwaterTarwater*incumbent
Carl TurnerC. TurnerTurner*incumbent
Heather MeyerH. MeyerMeyer*incumbent
Betsey LasisterB. LasisterLasister
Laura WilliamsL. WilliamsWilliams*incumbent
Louis RuizL. RuizRuiz*incumbent
Dennis GrindelD. GrindelGrindel
Pam CurtisP. CurtisCurtis*incumbent
Mathew ReinholdM. ReinholdReinhold
Mike ThompsonM. ThompsonThompson*incumbent
Valdenia WinnV. WinnWinn*incumbent
Marvin RobinsonM. RobinsonRobinson*incumbent
Kimberly DeWittK. DeWittDeWitt
Lynn MeltonL. MeltonMelton*incumbent
Mark GilstrapM. GilstrapGilstrap
Melissa OropezaM. OropezaOropeza*incumbent
Timothy JohnsonT. JohnsonJohnson*incumbent
Vanessa Vaughn WestV. Vaughn WestVaughn West
Angela StiensA. StiensStiens*incumbent
David BuehlerD. BuehlerBuehler*incumbent
Aimee BatemanA. BatemanBateman
Pat ProctorP. ProctorProctor*incumbent
Robert OwensR. OwensOwens
Eddy MartinezE. MartinezMartinez
Lance NeellyL. NeellyNeelly*incumbent
Mike StiebenM. StiebenStieben
Bill SuttonB. SuttonSutton*incumbent
Barbara BallardB. BallardBallard*incumbent
Mike AmyxM. AmyxAmyx*incumbent
Logan GinavanL. GinavanGinavan
Mary WilliamsM. WilliamsWilliams
Ronald EllisR. EllisEllis*incumbent
Dan OsmanD. OsmanOsman*incumbent
Debbie PaulbeckD. PaulbeckPaulbeck
Nikki McDonaldN. McDonaldMcDonald*incumbent
Jessica PorterJ. PorterPorter
Kyle McNortonK. McNortonMcNorton*incumbent
Eli KormanikE. KormanikKormanik
Megan SteeleM. SteeleSteele
Jacquie LightcapJ. LightcapLightcap
Jesse BorjonJ. BorjonBorjon*incumbent
Kirk HaskinsK. HaskinsHaskins*incumbent
Jade Pearson RamsdellJ. Pearson RamsdellPearson Ramsdell
Ken CorbetK. CorbetCorbet*incumbent
Tobias SchlingensiepenT. SchlingensiepenSchlingensiepen*incumbent
Michael BarronM. BarronBarron
Virgil WeigelV. WeigelWeigel*incumbent
Pennie Boyer-KloosP. Boyer-KloosBoyer-Kloos
John AlcalaJ. AlcalaAlcala*incumbent
Donna McGintyD. McGintyMcGinty
Wendy Damman-BednarW. Damman-BednarDamman-Bednar
Alexis SimmonsA. SimmonsSimmons
Michael MathewsonM. MathewsonMathewson
Michael LewisM. LewisLewis
Rebecca SchmoeR. SchmoeSchmoe*incumbent
Mic McGuireM. McGuireMcGuire
Mark SchreiberM. SchreiberSchreiber*incumbent
Will SpencerW. SpencerSpencer
Francis AwerkampF. AwerkampAwerkamp*incumbent
Dorothy GoodmanD. GoodmanGoodman
Allen ReavisA. ReavisReavis
Lewis BloomL. BloomBloom*incumbent
Lorraine CenicerosL. CenicerosCeniceros
Jeff UnderhillJ. UnderhillUnderhill*incumbent
Shawn ChaunceyS. ChaunceyChauncey
Sydney CarlinS. CarlinCarlin*incumbent
Angel RoeserA. RoeserRoeser
Michael SeymourM. SeymourSeymour
Nathan ButlerN. ButlerButler*incumbent
Clarke SandersC. SandersSanders*incumbent
Scott HillS. HillHill*incumbent
Steven HoweS. HoweHowe*incumbent
Heidi HoskinsonH. HoskinsonHoskinson
Avery AndersonA. AndersonAnderson*incumbent
Richard WilbornR. WilbornWilborn
Jenna RatzlaffJ. RatzlaffRatzlaff
Will CarpenterW. CarpenterCarpenter*incumbent
Brad BarrettB. BarrettBarrett
Kristey WilliamsK. WilliamsWilliams*incumbent
Daniel GoodmanD. GoodmanGoodman
Robyn EssexR. EssexEssex*incumbent
Siobhan McIntyreS. McIntyreMcIntyre
Webster RothW. RothRoth*incumbent
Bill RhileyB. RhileyRhiley*incumbent
Blake CarpenterB. CarpenterCarpenter*incumbent
Kyle BeauchampK. BeauchampBeauchamp
Leah HowellL. HowellHowell*incumbent
Henry HelgersonH. HelgersonHelgerson*incumbent
Erik SeligmanE. SeligmanSeligman
Ford CarrF. CarrCarr*incumbent
Aonya Kendrick BarnettA. Kendrick BarnettKendrick Barnett
Patrick PennP. PennPenn*incumbent
Silas MillerS. MillerMiller*incumbent
Mike SniderM. SniderSnider
Susan Oliver EstesS. Oliver EstesOliver Estes*incumbent
Veronica GilletteV. GilletteGillette
Chuck SchmidtC. SchmidtSchmidt
Sandy PickertS. PickertPickert*incumbent
KC OhaebosimK. OhaebosimOhaebosim*incumbent
Tracy EdingfieldT. EdingfieldEdingfield
Carl MaughanC. MaughanMaughan*incumbent
Steve HuebertS. HuebertHuebert
Keisha McClish CoutsK. McClish CoutsMcClish Couts
Emil BergquistE. BergquistBergquist*incumbent
John CarmichaelJ. CarmichaelCarmichael*incumbent
Justin ShoreJ. ShoreShore
Brian BergkampB. BergkampBergkamp*incumbent
Leo DelperdangL. DelperdangDelperdang*incumbent
Tom SawyerT. SawyerSawyer*incumbent
Christopher ParishoC. ParishoParisho
Dan JohnsonD. JohnsonJohnson
Tom KesslerT. KesslerKessler*incumbent
Christine PruittC. PruittPruitt
Nick HoheiselN. HoheiselHoheisel*incumbent
Carol BrewerC. BrewerBrewer
Cyndi HowertonC. HowertonHowerton*incumbent
Susan HumphriesS. HumphriesHumphries*incumbent
Mike McCorkleM. McCorkleMcCorkle
Daniel HawkinsD. HawkinsHawkins*incumbent
Joe SeiwertJ. SeiwertSeiwert*incumbent
Jason ProbstJ. ProbstProbst*incumbent
Kyler SweelyK. SweelySweely
Tyson ThrallT. ThrallThrall
Angela MartinezA. MartinezMartinez*incumbent
Lynnette Krieger-ZookL. Krieger-ZookKrieger-Zook
Paul WaggonerP. WaggonerWaggoner*incumbent
David HickmanD. HickmanHickman
Lisa MoserL. MoserMoser*incumbent
Gerald JohnsonG. JohnsonJohnson
Brandon WoodardB. WoodardWoodard*incumbent
Keith GriffinK. GriffinGriffin
Troy WaymasterT. WaymasterWaymaster*incumbent
Ellace HendersonE. HendersonHenderson
Ken RahjesK. RahjesRahjes*incumbent
Joseph LantzJ. LantzLantz
Barb WasingerB. WasingerWasinger*incumbent
Mark RondeauM. RondeauRondeau
Sherri BrantleyS. BrantleyBrantley
Brett FairchildB. FairchildFairchild*incumbent
Steve SchweizerS. SchweizerSchweizer
Kevin SchwertfegerK. SchwertfegerSchwertfeger
Gary WhiteG. WhiteWhite*incumbent
Kyle HoffmanK. HoffmanHoffman*incumbent
Bill HammondB. HammondHammond
Adam TurkA. TurkTurk*incumbent
Jim MinnixJ. MinnixMinnix*incumbent
Jason GoetzJ. GoetzGoetz*incumbent
Adam SmithA. SmithSmith*incumbent
Mel PinickM. PinickPinick
John ResmanJ. ResmanResman*incumbent
Lon PishnyL. PishnyPishny
Tracy MeinzerT. MeinzerMeinzer
Bob LewisB. LewisLewis*incumbent
Benjamin FuentesB. FuentesFuentes
Shannon FrancisS. FrancisFrancis*incumbent
Kansas
Kansas lawmakers use subpoena to force Ford County clerk to cooperate with election audit • Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature’s bipartisan auditing committee voted to issue a subpoena to compel the Ford County clerk to cooperate with the state’s security examination of voting-related documentation and equipment used in the 2022 general election.
House and Senate members participating in the committee meeting Monday took the extraordinary step of immediately relaunching the election security audit investigation that had been stalled long ago by Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox.
The committee directed Cox to comply with audit team information requests helpful in evaluating accuracy of voting machines relied on during the statewide election two years ago. In addition, Cox must provide auditors access by Aug. 14 to storage units, ballots and devices used to count votes in that election.
Rep. Shannon Francis, a Republican from Liberal in southwest Kansas, offered the motion to affirm the post-auditing staff’s authority to investigate Ford County’s election processes. He proposed a separate motion triggering Article 10, Chapter 46 of Kansas statute that outlined how investigating committees could use power of a subpoena to compel individuals to cooperate with audits. Both motions were approved without debate.
“If any person fails to make any books, accounts, contracts or records, files, documents and correspondence, confidential or otherwise, related to such audit available to the post auditor or any officer or employee of the division of post audit upon request … the post auditor shall report such failure immediately in writing to the legislative post audit committee, the governor and the attorney general,” Francis said.
Cox wasn’t at the audit committee’s brief meeting at the Capitol. She was given until 1 p.m. Aug. 14 to transfer requested materials to auditors.
When the Division of Post Audit initiated a 15-county review of election security standards, they discovered Ford and Chase county officials sealed most election documents in the same containers with original paper ballots. The practice of locking away ballot activity documents or equipment transfer records in containers with ballots didn’t comply with the Kansas Open Records Act mandating retention and inspection of certain election-related records.
In addition, Ford County refused to let the Legislature’s auditors inspect the county’s election management computer. That meant auditors couldn’t determine whether the election computer was properly disconnected from the internet or had non-election software installed on it.
Kristen Rottinghaus, deputy of the auditing division, said the legislative committee’s objective was to answer two basic questions about election security in Ford County. They are the same questions directed at the 13 counties featured in the audit report released in mid-2023.
The examination in Ford County would address accuracy and security of voting machines used in the November 2022 election, she said.
“And,” Rottinghaus said, “their policies and procedures for ensuring the security of storage units, ballots and devices used to tabulate votes during that same election.”
In July 2023, the auditing division reported to the Legislature that the 13 cooperating county governments had adequate overall election security practices but none met all 55 best practices or state laws during the 2022 primary or general elections. Auditors concluded most of the 13 counties examined in that audit provided inadequate levels of security for ballots and tabulation machines.
“They’re also missing or have weak practices in several important areas,” the audit report said. “That means security isn’t as good as it could or should be.”
The auditors recommended Secretary of State Scott Schwab provide counties with standardized election forms and policies. In addition, auditors proposed Schwab train county election officers on what election materials could be sealed in ballot containers and kept from public view.
“Secretary of state’s office officials told us county officials often indiscriminately seal election documents with ballots,” the audit said. “But this doesn’t align with the purpose of ballot sealing, which is to maintain an accurate paper record of the election results.”
Auditing of county election security practices in Kansas was driven by Republican state legislators convinced by former President Donald Trump’s false claim President Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election in a multi-state conspiracy.
Trump, who carried Kansas in the 2016 and 2020 elections, has continued to perpetuate that myth on the 2024 campaign trail.
In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas filed a lawsuit against Cox challenging her decision to move the city’s voting location serving a population of 27,000 people to a facility outside city limits. The suit claimed the change interferred with a fundamental right to vote and disproportionately would impact Hispanic voters.
Cox also forwarded to then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach a letter from ACLU Kansas requesting a voter help line, but wrote on top of the document, “LOL,” meaning to laugh out loud.
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