Breaking with his aides, Trump endorses Kobach

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump overruled the warnings of aides Monday to endorse hardline conservative Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in that state’s Republican gubernatorial primary.

In a morning tweet ahead of today’s contest, Trump said Kobach has his “full & total Endorsement!” as he faces off against a field of candidates that includes incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer.

“Kris Kobach, a strong and early supporter of mine, is running for Governor of the Great State of Kansas,” Trump added. “He is a fantastic guy who loves his State and our Country - he will be a GREAT Governor.”

Kobach gained a national profile as an ardent advocate of stricter voter identification laws in his state, including a requirement in Kansas law that new voters provide proof of citizenship when they register that a federal judge recently struck down. His views on immigration policy also align with Trump’s, and he advised the Trump campaign on a strategy for forcing Mexico to pay for the wall.

Kobach was the most prominent Kansas elected official — and the only one holding statewide office — to publicly endorse Trump ahead of the state’s 2016 presidential caucuses. Since Trump’s election, he has continued to advise the White House on immigration and homeland security issues.

Two Trump administration officials told the AP in July that the president had been inclined to endorse Kobach ahead of the state’s Aug. 7 primary. But aides warned the president that it would alienate Republicans loyal to Colyer, who succeeded Sam Brownback when Trump selected him for a diplomatic post.