Gizzi on Politics
by John Gizzi
October 18, 2010
Kobach Back Again
In ’04, Kris Kobach stunned the political world in Kansas by winning the Republican nomination for Congress in the Sunflower State’s 3rd District over the choice of the party establishment. Formerly the top advisor on immigration to then-U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, law professor Kobach had energized traditional conservatives, opponents of illegal immigration and pro-family groups to score an upset.
Defeated in the fall race, Kobach returned to teaching and later was elected state Republican chairman in a three-candidate race. For the next few years, Kobach maintained a high profile as party chairman and functioned as something of a “loyal opposition” leader against then-Democratic Gov. (and now secretary of Health and Human Services) Kathleen Sebelius.
This year, Kobach, who played a leading role in crafting the controversial Arizona law to control illegal immigration, is back. His following among the Republican grassroots helped him handily win the nomination for secretary of state to oppose Democratic incumbent Chris Briggs [sic]. (In March, Republican Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh made a surprise exit from the job and thus permitted Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson to appoint state Securities Commissioner Briggs to be the state’s top elections official.)
“Winning this office is critical,” Kobach told us, “because you have organizations like ACORN and the Service Employees International Union devoted to the breakdown of law in the voting process. Someone needs to stand up to them.”
Kobach’s antidote to what he considers voting fraud perpetrated by left-wing groups is a requirement for proving citizenship and producing photo identification to vote. As he told us, “This is really a national question of whether the secretary of state of any state will put an end to the abuse of the voting system. We will either be continuing with the status quo in which elections are routinely stolen across the country, or we will take positive steps to protect the integrity of our voting. If I am elected, Kansas will be the battleground on this critical issue.”
Kobach has also long championed legislation to prevent employers from hiring individuals without proper documentation such as a green card or passport.
With the odds overwhelming that Republican Sen. Sam Brownback will win the governorship and the legislature a cinch to be [sic] Republican hands, Kobach has an opportunity to push his agenda next year – if he unseats Briggs this November.
