Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is making clear that the only campaign he has in mind is a presidential bid, endorsing Republican Sen. Jerry Moran for reelection in Kansas.
Pompeo’s backing of Moran, coming in the off-year and nearly 10 months before the Republican primary, nips speculation about a possible 2022 Senate campaign in the bud and solidifies the former secretary as a 2024 White House contender.
The notion that political observers might have raised questions about Pompeo’s political future as it relates to the Kansas Senate race is not far-fetched — even with a Republican incumbent running for reelection.
Years before he joined Former President Donald Trump’s administration, Pompeo, then a Kansas congressman, considered challenging Moran in a Senate primary and took initial steps toward launching a bid before deciding to stand pat.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
On Tuesday, through CAVPAC, his political action committee, Pompeo issued a statement supporting Moran.
“Senator Jerry Moran always puts Kansas first, and we need him in the Senate in order to save the American Dream, as we know it, for future generations,” he said. “I’m proud to support Jerry for re-election, and I encourage my fellow Kansans to send him back to the Senate to continue fighting for our country.”
Pompeo in the 2020 election cycle, while secretary of state, eyed a Senate run for the seat being vacated by 24-year GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. Pompeo was a highly sought-after recruit as a means of blocking the GOP nomination from going to immigration hawk Kris Kobach, a former secretary of state who flailed in previous efforts to move up higher in statewide elected office. Pompeo decided to stay in the Trump Cabinet, and Roger Marshall, a four-year Republican congressman, easily won the seat.
