TOPEKA, Kan. — We might not know for a week or more who earned the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.
Inside Juli’s Coffee in Topeka and around the state, people are talking about the razor-thin outcome on the Republican side for Kansas governor.
“A lot of things have been surprising from the last presidential election on,” said Don Vest.
“There are still a lot of provisional votes out there,” said Christian Kramer.
As of Wednesday evening, Secretary of State Kris Kobach leads Gov. Jeff Colyer for the nomination by 191 votes.
But provisional and mail-in ballots have not yet been counted.
“In the past, provisional ballots do not change the race, but this is close. This is a tentative victory, and we may move it down the track or hand it off to Jeff or keep holding on to it, but it is imperative that Republicans start running this race,” said Kobach.
Johnson County could swing the race back in Colyer’s favor.
“Those numbers of ballots can clearly change the outcome, so we are going to be waiting for that, waiting to see how this comes together. To be honest, we are optimistic that those votes will come in on our side just as they did yesterday,” said Colyer.
As for what these voters think should happen.
“I think it needs to be a recount when it is that close. I don’t suspect a conspiracy,” said Vest.
“Like if it is between half a percent, there should be an automatic recount,” said Kramer.
Kobach’s office oversees elections. He said he won’t recuse himself. Colyer said it’s too early to talk about recounts.
See more political news at kshb.com/politics
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