The Kansas governor-elect turned down a White House invitation to meet with President Trump and Cabinet officials and talk about their agendas.
Democrat Laura Kelly, who defeated Republican Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in November, chose not to travel to Washington because she is busy preparing to take office next month, her spokeswoman said.
“Kansas faces many challenges and the Governor-elect’s first priority is to draft a balanced budget and lay the groundwork to rebuild Kansas,” Kelly spokeswoman Ashley All told McClatchy DC.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both visited Kansas in the lead-up to the November elections and urged voters against supporting Kelly. Kobach, the Trump-backed candidate, narrowly beat incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican primary.
Thirteen new governors — both Democrats and Republicans — attended the meet-and-greet session Thursday. Approximately 20 victors in the 36 gubernatorial races last month are new to office.
The event gave those new governors the chance to talk with administration officials about partnering on workforce training, infrastructure, military personnel concerns, and combating the opioid crisis.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen attended. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the president’s daughter and son-in-law, both senior White House advisers, also participated.
