Chad Taylor, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, withdrew his name from the ballot today.
Taylor was running against incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican, in a four-way race with an independent and Libertarian candidates.
Taylor’s name on Wednesday evening had “withdrawn” next to it on the secretary of state’s list of candidates for office, but on Thursday morning, his name was back on the list, perhaps indicating that there will be some ruling in the future on the withdrawal.
“Thank you everyone for supporting us – financially, spiritually and emotionally,” Taylor said in a message sent out on social media.
Independent candidate Greg Orman’s campaign television ads were far more visible in the Kansas City area than ads for Taylor. According to the website Open Secrets, sponsored by the Center for Responsive Politics, Taylor had raised $130,097 compared to Orman’s $671,322, and Roberts’ $4.7 million.
Also running for Senate is Libertarian Randall Batson. He raised no money, according to the Open Secrets website.
Taylor defeated Patrick Wiesner in the Democratic primary. Both candidates had appeared at a campaign forum in Wyandotte County.
The Pat Roberts campaign issued this statement about the Taylor withdrawal:
“Chad Taylor’s withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race reveals a corrupt bargain between Greg Orman and national Democrats including Senator Harry Reid that disenfranchises Kansas Democrats,” said Leroy Towns, executive campaign manager for Pat Roberts for Senate. “It makes clear what has been obvious from the start: Orman is the choice of liberal Democrats and he can no longer hide behind an independent smokescreen.
“We are confident that Kansas voters will quickly see through this charade foisted on Kansas by Orman and his Democrat allies.”