Kansas Democrat Mann claims AG win by 12,821 votes amid audit
With 100% of precincts reporting, Mann leads incumbent Kobach by nearly 13,000 votes as a state-mandated hand count begins.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Kansas voters have cast their ballots for Attorney General, and the unofficial numbers show a narrow victory for the challenger. As of Wednesday night, Democrat Chris Mann holds a lead of 12,821 votes over Republican incumbent Kris Kobach. The margin places the race within the threshold that triggers a mandatory state audit, meaning the final result may take weeks to confirm.
Mann declared victory on Wednesday evening, stating that the odds of Kobach closing the gap are mathematically unlikely. He noted that 100% of precincts have reported their tallies. “It’s a mathematical improbability for Attorney General Kobach to come back at this point,” Mann said. He added that the team was comfortable with the final count being in, showing a lead of more than 11,000 votes at the time of his initial announcement.
The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office listed 551,468 votes for Mann and 538,647 for Kobach on its website. Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced that six statewide races, including the governor’s and attorney general’s contests, will undergo an audit. Kansas law requires this process whenever the margin is 1% or less of the total votes cast. Schwab confirmed the trigger for the AG race on Wednesday.
County election officials must now hand count ballots in 10% of precincts in each county. The minimum requirement is one audited precinct per county. Mann described the audit as a routine part of the election process. “The audit is just a normal part of the campaign,” he said. “It’s a standard process that happens just to make sure that the vote is correct and our elections are as safe and secure as we know they are.”
This election serves as a rematch of the 2022 race, where Kobach won with just over 50% of the vote. Mann attributed his success this year to a strategy of direct engagement with voters. “What I really found was that people across this state really wanted leaders who showed up,” Mann said. He emphasized that meeting people face-to-face and listening to their concerns made a difference in how voters perceived the candidates.
Mann outlined his immediate priorities for the office, focusing on law enforcement support and consumer fraud. He stated that 70% of law enforcement agencies in Kansas have 10 or fewer officers. “We really need to support law enforcement throughout the state,” Mann said. He cited data showing that victims in Kansas lost $30 million to scams and frauds in the first six months of this year. He plans to use his role to educate the public on these schemes and work with other states to hold bad actors accountable.
Mann said he has not yet spoken to Kobach but expects to do so soon to ensure a smooth transition. “But we anticipate talking to him in the future and really look forward to working with Attorney General Kobach on a smooth transition because it’s important for the office to continue doing the work of protecting people in Kansas,” Mann said. Kobach’s team did not return a request for comment as of Wednesday night.
The race remains officially uncalled until the audit results are finalized. Schwab’s office will release the final certified numbers after county officials complete the hand counts. Until then, the unofficial tally stands with Mann ahead by a margin of 12,821 votes.
