While Donald Trump leads Hillary Clinton in Kansas by double digits, Democrats have an unexpected opportunity to pick off incumbent Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder. Rather than turning to his party’s nominee though, Yoder drafted Kansas City Royal’s legend, George Brett.
With the help of the baseball player, Yoder is trying to do the most difficult thing in politics this year: avoid Trump’s down-ballot curse.
Congressional Republicans are caught in a pickle. The choice to endorse the Republican nominee risks alienating either a candidate’s base or moderate voters. Increasingly unpopular as the race continues, Trump has put red congressional districts across the nation at risk. And for Yoder, it’s particularly tricky.
Though Trump leads by double digits across most of the state, in the more urban eastern corner, he polls quite poorly. By endorsing the party’s nominee, normally a safe bet except for this year, Yoder has opened himself up to attack by Democratic opponent Jay Sidie.
Fighting to preserve a slim 4-point lead, Yoder called in the Hall of Famer to help him retire the challenger. Kansas Republicans even aired a commercial featuring Brett during the World Series.
“In baseball, when you have a good member on your team,” the old slugger tells the audience, “you do everything you can to keep him. And that’s why I am still a Yoder voter.”
A Royals legend, Brett is unquestionably popular in the Jay Hawk State. His plaque in Cooperstown describes him as “hitting royalty” and a player who enjoys “universal reverence.” Only three other men in baseball history rival his record of 3,000 career hits, 300 home runs and .300 batting average.
Though he delivered a World Series Championship in 1985, it’s unclear if the Hall of Famer can produce another win for Yoder.
Democrats have also called in outside talent. As part of a power play to protect his own legacy, President Obama reached down the ballot to endorse Yoder’s opponent on Monday, calling him “a tough and smart leader who will move our nation forward.”
It’s unclear if the endorsement of a White Sox fan will change the outcome of the contest in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District. But if George Brett and baseball can pull out a victory for Yoder, he won’t have defeated Obama. He’ll have survived Trump.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
