Salina residents brave elements to hear from Kansas Republican candidates

Despite dropping temperatures and the threat of rain, around 75 people gathered in the parking lot at Tony's Pizza Events Center as the Kansas Republican Party's 2022 Bus Tour stopped in Salina Friday.

Shortly after its scheduled 2 p.m. stop, those who came to support and hear from the GOP candidates for statewide positions in the upcoming general election gathered, with political signs and American flags in hand, as the bus arrived.

Speaking at the event were locals Tracey Mann, incumbent running to keep his seat in the U.S. House, and Steven Johnson, a current Kansas State House member representing a portion of Saline County who is running for State Treasurer, as well as Kansas Attorney General candidate Kris Kobach and Governor and Lt. Governor candidates Derek Schmidt and Katie Sawyer.

The primary focus of all the candidates who spoke was to come together as a party to support Republicans up and down the ballot on Nov. 8.

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"We are run solid as a ticket, from the most local race all the way up to the top and we're going to win this race," said Schmidt.

"We have 32 days until we get together and fire Laura Kelly," Schmidt said to the applause of every supporter who came.

Another focus for the candidates, and those who came to support them, was the desire to defeat Kansas's current, Democratic, governor.

Finally, just as rain began to fall, the crowd joined together for a group photo in front of the bus, which event organizers encouraged people to share on social media.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Kansas Republican candidates stopped in Salina on Bus Tour Friday