TOPEKA — (May 11, 2026) — Fifty-one Kansas sheriffs today announced their endorsement of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s re-election, praising his proven law-and-order leadership that has delivered the lowest crime rate in the state in 56 years.
Brown County Sheriff John Merchant highlighted Kobach’s success in fulfilling his 2022 campaign promises to protect Kansas families by cracking down on fentanyl traffickers and organized retail crime as well as pushing for heavier penalties on such criminals.
“Attorney General Kobach’s approach has made a big difference in Kansas law enforcement. He is very responsive to sheriffs across the state, and his team has successfully implemented a tough-on-crime strategy by aggressively prosecuting criminals and working to make our laws tougher,” Merchant said.
Under Kobach’s leadership, Kansas has achieved historic reductions in crime. The state’s overall crime rate index has dropped to its lowest level in 56 years with only 23 index crimes per 1,000 Kansans. This is due to successful prosecutions, enhanced KBI enforcement, and the removal of illegal alien criminals.
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said, “Kris Kobach has been a strong partner for law enforcement across Kansas. His law-and-order approach has made our state safer. And the KBI under his leadership has been more effective and responsive than ever. We need him to continue serving as Attorney General.”
“These historic lows in the Kansas crime rate reflect the shared success of my office, the KBI, Kansas sheriffs and other law enforcement entities. They also reflect the fact that law enforcement collaboration in fighting crime is stronger than ever,” Kobach said.
The following sheriffs have endorsed Attorney General Kobach:
- Anderson County Sheriff Wesley McClain
- Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir
- Brown County Sheriff John Merchant
- Butler County Sheriff Monty Hughey
- Chautauqua County Sheriff Richard Newby
- Cheyenne County Sheriff Cody Beeson
- Cloud County Sheriff Ken Davis
- Coffey County Sheriff Thomas Johnson
- Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti
- Crawford County Sheriff William Tomassi Jr
- Decatur County Sheriff David Wachendorfer
- Elk County Sheriff John Walker
- Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun
- Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard
- Ford County Sheriff William Carr
- Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards
- Geary County Sheriff Nathan Boeckman
- Grant County Sheriff James Biddle
- Greeley County Sheriff Jessica McDaniel-Brown
- Hamilton County Sheriff Mike Wilson
- Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay
- Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse
- Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herring
- Kingman County Sheriff Brent Wood
- Lane County Sheriff Ron Ridley
- Linn County Sheriff James Akes
- Marion County Sheriff Jeff Soyez
- McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne
- Meade County Sheriff Doug Ritter
- Miami County Sheriff Frank Kelly
- Mitchell County Sheriff Anthony Perez
- Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade
- Morton County Sheriff Thad Earls
- Ness County Sheriff Brandon Mitchell
- Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells
- Osborne County Sheriff Scottie Becker
- Pawnee County Sheriff Larry Atteberry
- Phillips County Sheriff Kyle Pinkerton
- Pottawatomie County Sheriff Doug Adams
- Pratt County Sheriff James White
- Republic County Sheriff David Cox
- Rice County Sheriff Nicholas Sowers
- Rooks County Sheriff Gary Knight
- Russell County Sheriff Andrew VanDerWege
- Scott County Sheriff Jeffrey Pounds
- Seward County Sheriff Gene Ward
- Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill
- Stanton County Sheriff Clayton Lester
- Wallace County Sheriff Marshall Unruh
- Wabaunsee County Sheriff Erick Kirsch
- Woodson County Sheriff Jacob Morrison
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