Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach Plans to Sue Governor Laura Kelly, Citing Partisan Dispute

Strategic Insights -

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, plans to sue Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, citing a partisan dispute over the role of the attorney general in enforcing the law. Kobach, who has a history of conflict with Kelly, argued that an elected attorney general is more accountable to the people and can exercise checks and balances on the governor. The dispute has been simmering for months, with Kobach and Kelly on opposite sides of several high-profile cases.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach plans to sue Governor Laura Kelly, citing a partisan dispute over the role of the attorney general in enforcing the law.
  • Kobach, a Republican, argues that an elected attorney general is more accountable to the people and can exercise checks and balances on the governor.
  • The dispute has been simmering for months, with Kobach and Kelly on opposite sides of several high-profile cases, including a lawsuit against the Trump administration for federal funding losses.
  • Kobach has also sued Kelly, asking a federal court to boot her from the suit because only attorneys general can sue on behalf of a state.
  • Kelly has been an outspoken opponent of the Trump administration's actions as chair of the Democratic Governors' Association.
  • The two have a history of conflict dating back to the 2018 gubernatorial race, in which Kelly beat Kobach.

Statistics:

  • 22 states, including Kansas, and Washington, D.C. joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration for federal funding losses.
  • Kobach submitted a court filing asking the federal court in Massachusetts to boot Kelly from the suit, arguing that only attorneys general can sue on behalf of a state.
  • The Trump administration agrees with Kobach and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's argument that the inclusion of noncitizens and temporary citizens in the calculation of electoral college votes and congressional seats goes against the 14th Amendment.
  • Ford County, Kansas, and a group of citizens sued plastic, oil, and chemical companies in 2024, alleging that the companies lied for decades about the recyclability of plastic.

Sources:

  • [Kansas Reflector]
  • [Alaska Beacon]
  • [States Newsroom]
  • [KANSASREFLECTOR.COM] - 2025/08/28
  • [KANSASREFLECTOR.COM] - 2024/12/12