Poll: Marshall takes lead over Kobach in Kansas Senate primary

Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) has pulled ahead of former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) in the heated primary race for an open Senate seat, according to a new poll from a group backing Marshall.

The survey, conducted by the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of Kansans for Marshall, found that 33 percent of respondents said they would like to see the two-term congressman as the GOP nominee, with 26 percent saying they would prefer Kobach.

State Sen. Susan Wagle (R) garnered 7 percent, followed by 6 percent for businessman Bob Hamilton and 4 percent for Kansas Turnpike Authority Chairman Dave Lindstrom.

Marshall’s 7 percentage point lead marks a reversal from March, when a Public Opinion Strategies poll showed Kobach leading him by 6 points.

The primary is scheduled for Aug. 4. The GOP nominee is expected to take on Democrat Barbara Bollier, a retired anesthesiologist.

Marshall — an ob-gyn by trade who has been volunteering to treat COVID-19 patients at health facilities in his district amid the pandemic — said he’s encouraged by the new numbers, but said his main focus is on the pandemic response, not the campaign.

“I think this polling must be just a reflection that Kansans think we’re doing a good job,” he told The Hill. “The time I’ve spent in clinics, the time I’ve spent in the ICU and the ER is and helping get testing set up and getting supplies where we need them. I think Kansans watch what you’re doing more than what you’re saying, so I’m very pleased with the polling.”

Kobach’s campaign said they don’t believe the poll is indicative of where the race stands. 

“This poll is an outlier, not consistent with any other polling data available in this race,” Danedri Herbert, Kobach’s Communications Director, said in a statement. 

“Secretary Kobach remains in the lead, and as voters continue to learn about Roger Marshall’s past criticisms of the president and his liberal voting record, I expect Secretary Kobach’s lead to grow.”

Marshall also took a shot at Kobach’s 2018 loss to Gov. Laura Kelly (D) in the traditionally red state.

“[GOP voters] want to make sure we don’t make the same mistake we made a year-and-a-half ago when we sent someone to a governor’s race from our primary in a state that President Trump won by 20 points; he lost it by 5 points. So we can’t send that person back to a general election against Chuck Schumer’s hand-picked person, Barbara Bollier.”

Public Opinion Strategies polled 600 Republican primary voters from May 10-12. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.