KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Sen. Barbara Bollier has picked up another high-profile Democratic endorsement in her campaign for U.S. Senate.
Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced she would back Bollier, a former Republican who switched her political affiliation late last year.
“Dr. Barbara Bollier shares my commonsense Kansas values and has a proven track record of standing up for our families,” Kelly said in a Facebook post. “She is exactly the principled, independent voice of reason Kansas needs representing them in D.C.”
Kelly was elected governor last year after a closely watched race against former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican who has built a national profile based on strict immigration views and tough voter ID laws. Kobach also is running for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who is not seeking re-election.
Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas governor and Health and Human Services secretary in the Obama administration, endorsed Bollier last week. Former federal prosecutor Barry Grissom suspended his campaign shortly after Bollier entered the race and said he would endorse her instead.
Aside from Bollier, who has served in the Kansas Legislature since 2010, Democrat Usha Reddi, Manhattan mayor pro tem, has announced a Senate campaign.
Republicans have a more crowded field vying for the seat, including Kobach, Rep. Roger Marshall, Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, Kansas City area businessman Dave Lindstrom and conservative commentator Bryan Pruitt.
