© Stefani Reynolds
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerNYT: Don't make Acosta a political martyr Charities say they never received donations touted by Jeffrey Epstein: report Schumer to donate Epstein campaign contributions to groups fighting sexual violence MORE (D-N.Y.) and author Sarah Smarsh discussed a potential bid to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate in 2020, The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday.
"Conversations have made it clear that, as a proud product of rural America, a longtime chronicler of Kansas for a national audience, and a progressive woman who was raised in a moderately conservative environment, I am a cultural bridge person who would offer voters a unique option in the race," Smarsh told the newspaper.
The author, a 2018 National Book Award finalist for "Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth," added that she had met with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto Catherine Marie Cortez MastoHouse Democrat's bill would facilitate electric car chargers at all national parks Democratic senators want candidates to take Swalwell's hint and drop out Harris, Schatz have highest percentage of non-white staff among Senate Democrats MORE (D-Nev.), head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and spoken with some presidential candidates.
Although Kansas has not had a Democratic senator since 1932, the party is reportedly hopeful that it can follow up on the success of electing Gov. Laura Kelly (D) and fill the seat of Sen. Pat Roberts Charles (Pat) Patrick RobertsKansas Republican suggests Kobach candidacy threatens Senate GOP majority The Hill's Morning Report - 2020 jitters hit both parties in the Senate GOP frets over nightmare scenario for Senate primaries MORE (R-Kan.), who is retiring at the end of his term.
Smarsh, who spoke at Kelly's inauguration in January, told the Star she has received significant encouragement from party leaders and will continue to "slowly weigh" a bid.
"I became a writer, in part, to hold government accountable and call out cultural attitudes and policies that harm disadvantaged groups — including the working-poor Kansas farming community I grew up in," she said.
Several other Democrats, including former U.S. Attorney for Kansas Barry Grissom and former Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), are reportedly taking steps toward 2020 Senate campaigns.
On the Republican side, the field seems to be wide open after Secretary State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoAs tensions escalate, US must intensify pressure on Iran and the IAEA The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by JUUL Labs - House to vote to condemn Trump tweet Trump's Huawei concession is 'the rope that could hang America' MORE "ruled out" running for Roberts's seat.
Tags Catherine Cortez Masto Charles Schumer Pat Roberts Mike Pompeo