Kris Kobach Announces Bid for Kansas Senate Seat

Citing critical Supreme Court decisions made on 5-4 votes, as well as his experience as a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Kobach said, “The people in the Senate who confirm judges need to really understand the constitutional law and need to be able to assess, when a judicial nominee says, ‘I’m not a judicial activist,’ they need to be able to follow up a particular opinion and say, ‘You said this, what did you mean?’”

Mr. Kobach, 53, who holds degrees from Harvard, Yale and Oxford, was the latest in a large field of candidates lining up to replace Mr. Roberts, 83, who is in his fourth term.

Republicans who have already announced candidacies include Dave Lindstrom, a former lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jake LaTurner, the state treasurer.

Mr. Kobach’s candidacy could rekindle efforts by Republicans to recruit Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former representative from Kansas, as a candidate for the Senate seat. Mr. Pompeo said in February that he had ruled out a run despite encouragement from party leaders.

Others believed to be considering the race include Roger Marshall, an obstetrician who serves in the House of Representatives; former Gov. Jeff Colyer; and Alan Cobb, president of the state Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Cobb, a former adviser to President Trump’s 2016 campaign, confirmed on Monday that he is mulling a run. “I think I’d bring a lot of things to the table that the others don’t,” he said.

Democrats who have already entered the race include Barry Grissom, a former United States attorney, and former Representative Nancy Boyda.