Attorney General of Kansas · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Kansas attorney general race?
Chris Mann has the strongest record in the Kansas attorney general race. Chris Mann and Kris Kobach each score 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026; Chris Mann ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (50 to 33). Chris Mann's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Kris Kobach's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Kris Kobach
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 33
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Chris Mann
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Kris Kobach
- Mark against2018-04-18
A federal judge held him in civil contempt as secretary of state for failing to carry out a 2016 order to notify and register affected voters, and ordered him to pay plaintiffs' attorney fees.
Sources: KCUR, April 18, 2018, NPR, April 18, 2018, New York Times via WRAL, April 19, 2018
- Mark against2017-06-23
A federal magistrate judge fined him $1,000 for misleading the court about documents in the proof-of-citizenship case; the district judge upheld the order on July 25, 2017.
Sources: U.S. District Court for Kansas, Fish v. Kobach, Doc. 374, KCUR, July 6, 2017
- On the record2017
Served as vice chair of President Trump's short-lived Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.
- On the record2013 to 2020
The proof-of-citizenship voter registration law he wrote and defended was struck down; the ACLU suit cost the state nearly $2 million in legal fees and expenses.
Sources: Kansas News Service via The Lawrence Times, Sept. 1, 2026, KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit1980s to 1990s
Graduated first in Harvard's government department and won a Marshall Scholarship to Oxford.
Source: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
Chris Mann
- On the recordbefore 2000s
Left police work after a drunk driver hit his patrol car during a traffic stop, then became a prosecutor and an advocate with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Source: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Kris Kobach. In June 2017 a federal magistrate judge fined him $1,000 as secretary of state for misleading the court about documents in the proof-of-citizenship case; the district judge upheld the order in July 2017. State campaign reports are on file.
Sources: U.S. District Court for Kansas, Fish v. Kobach, Doc. 374, July 25, 2017, KCUR, July 6, 2017, Courthouse News Service, June 2017, Kansas Secretary of State, statewide campaign finance filings, 2026 cycle
Chris Mann. State campaign finance reports for 2023 through 2026 are on file with the Secretary of State. No Public Disclosure Commission finding found.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, statewide campaign finance filings, 2026 cycle
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Kris Kobach. Secretary of state for two terms and attorney general since 2023. Court findings against him are scored under criteria 1 and 5, not counted twice.
Source: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
Chris Mann. Police officer, Wyandotte County prosecutor and Kansas Securities Commission attorney, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Kris Kobach. In April 2018 a federal judge held him, as secretary of state, in civil contempt for failing to carry out her 2016 order to notify and register affected voters, and ordered him to pay the plaintiffs' reasonable attorney fees.
Sources: KCUR, April 18, 2018, NPR, April 18, 2018, New York Times via WRAL, April 19, 2018
Chris Mann. Served as a sworn Lawrence police officer and later as a prosecutor; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Kris Kobach. Kansas attorney general since January 2023 and secretary of state for two terms (2011 to 2019); earlier counsel to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Sources: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Kris Kobach
Chris Mann. Former Lawrence police officer, Wyandotte County assistant prosecutor and Kansas Securities Commission attorney; former chair of the national board of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. No elected office.
Sources: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Chris Mann (Kansas)
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Kris Kobach. Former constitutional law professor who argues his office's cases himself; runs on crime, consumer protection and multistate litigation.
Sources: Kansas News Service via The Lawrence Times, Sept. 1, 2026, Ballotpedia, Kris Kobach
Chris Mann. Proposes support for local law enforcement, police training and mental health resources, fraud enforcement including AI-generated fraud, and funding for domestic violence shelters.
Source: KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Kris Kobach. Explains his record in news interviews and on his campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Kansas News Service via The Lawrence Times, Sept. 1, 2026, Ballotpedia, Kris Kobach
Chris Mann. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, publishes positions on his campaign site and gives broadcast interviews.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chris Mann (Kansas), KCUR, Sept. 22, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Kris Kobach. Graduated from Washburn Rural High School in Topeka; has held statewide office in Kansas since 2011 except 2019 to 2022.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kris Kobach
Chris Mann. Graduated from Olathe East High School and lives in Lawrence.
Source: Ballotpedia, Chris Mann (Kansas)
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Kris Kobach. Heads the attorney general's office; state campaign reports are on file, several amended. No campaign finance penalty found.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, statewide campaign finance filings, 2026 cycle
Chris Mann. State campaign finance reports are on file with no penalty found.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, statewide campaign finance filings, 2026 cycle
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Kris Kobach. No public record found.
Chris Mann. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Kansas attorney general race?
Chris Mann has the strongest record in the Kansas attorney general race. Chris Mann and Kris Kobach each score 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026; Chris Mann ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (50 to 33). Chris Mann's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Kris Kobach's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Kansas attorney general race in 2026?
Kris Kobach (Republican, incumbent), Chris Mann (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Kris Kobach a good candidate for Attorney General?
Kris Kobach scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 33 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Chris Mann a good candidate for Attorney General?
Chris Mann scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Kansas race scored, and the Kansas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.