By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON — Washburn University professor Bob Beatty believes there is room for at least one more candidate in the Republican primary for governor in 2022, even though former governor Dr. Jeff Colyer and Attorney General Derek Schmidt have both said they are running.
"There's certainly a possibility of a Trump Republican," Beatty said. "We know that from what's going on nationally, which would be a candidate who is vociferously and authentically and wildly pro-Trump in ways that Jeff Colyer and Derek Schmidt are just not going to be."
A name doesn't immediately come to Beatty's mind, though it's possible that Kris Kobach could take that lane, if his loss in 2018 hasn't caused too much damage with the party.
"There is a point in politics where, if you lose too many elections, you lose your credibility," Beatty said. "Taking a chance on one more lost election would be pretty tough for Kobach."
One name that won't be in the Kansas governor discussion is former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He's pursuing a higher office.
"Pompeo is effectively running for President," Beatty said. "Again, the specter of Donald Trump looms large in that, if Trump runs for President, then Pompeo is out on that front, but you certainly could see him effectively running for Vice President, as odd as that sounds."
The implication is that if Trump were to run again, he would likely not pick Mike Pence to run with him, and he's seemed to trust Pompeo in the past.