August 26, 2013 – Wichita, Kans.
John Carmichael, candidate for Kansas House of Representatives District 92, today endorsed former state senator Jean Schodorf’s bid for Kansas Secretary of State. Schodorf, who had been mentioned as a potential competitor to Carmichael for the House seat being vacated by Nile Dillmore, will instead seek the office currently held by Kris Kobach.
“I have been a friend and supporter of Jean for many years,” said Carmichael. “I enthusiastically endorse her candidacy. Kansas must return the Secretary of State’s office to a public servant who will fight for every citizen’s right to vote, instead of using the office for personal political gain,” he said.
Schodorf, a Democrat, previously served in the Kansas State Senate as a Republican. Her announcement ends speculation that she would seek to return to the legislature as a Democratic member of the House.
“It’s time to end Secretary Kobach’s divisive, partisan warfare on Kansas voters, and I will do all I can to help Jean win,” Carmichael said. “Additionally, I am announcing now that my first priority, upon being sworn into office, will be the introduction of a bill to repeal Kobach’s voter suppression law,” he said.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a nearly identical Arizona law, and the ACLU has said it will bring legal action to compel Kansas’ compliance with the ruling. “Kansans cannot afford to pay Kris Kobach’s legal bills to defend his unconstitutional war on voters,” said Carmichael.