RENO COUNTY — The Reno County Republican Party issued a formal statement of censure to former Governors Mike Hayden and Bill Graves on Thursday.
The statement says that those former governors endorsement of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has "besmirched the core principles of the Kansas Republican Party"
The party notes that endorsement of Gov. Kelly is in conflict with the party platform that "is built on the tenets of small government, low taxes, individual freedoms and the protection/respect of life (particularly as it pertains to our unborn children)."
Hayden and Graves are among a large group of Republicans to endorse Kelly, also including former United States Senator from Kansas Sheila Frahm, former RNC Committeewoman Alicia Salisbury, former Republican Attorney General Robert Stephan, former Republican Representative Jan Kessinger, former Republican Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, and over 160 other Kansas Republicans.