Michael Smith
ON THE RECORD · 6 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Let’s not get too hasty here.”
Michael Smith · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05
Smith urged restraint in interpreting the election results given Kansas's enduring conservatism.
“It’s still a pretty conservative state,”
Michael Smith · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05
Smith cautioned that Kansas remains a conservative state despite the Democratic gains.
“There are certainly people in Kansas that are like that: they’re pretty conservative, but they’re not beholden to Trump. And so I think one of the things this election did is peel off those people.”
Michael Smith · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05
Smith suggested the election peeled off conservative Kansans who are not beholden to Trump.
“And they’re more likely to swing over to the other party because the economy is really taking a beating.”
Michael Smith · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05
Smith explained that non-farming communities dependent on agriculture are more likely to swing Democratic due to economic hardship.
“Not everybody that voted for Trump is part of this cult of personality that Trump has tried to make the Republican party into,”
Michael Smith · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05
Smith argued that not all Trump voters are part of a cult of personality around the former president.
“The people that live here aren’t actually farmers,”
Michael Smith · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-05
Smith noted that residents of communities like Junction City and Emporia are not actually farmers themselves.