On July 26, 2017, Governor Sam Brownback was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

[4] Colyer was eligible to seek a full term and announced his candidacy prior to becoming Governor of Kansas.

On August 7, 2018, Kobach defeated Colyer in the Republican gubernatorial primary by an initial margin of 191 votes,[5] a lead that increased to 361 votes by August 14, although discrepancies in some counties needed resolution and provisional and absentee ballots may not have been counted in some counties.

[6][7][8] Colyer conceded the Republican nomination after the final votes were tallied, in which Kobach's margin grew slightly.

[15] Organizations Statewide and local politicians Federal politicians Statewide and local politicians Labor unions Organizations Newspapers and news websites U.S. Executive Branch officials U.S. senators U.S. representatives Statewide and local politicians Individuals Organizations with Kris Kobach and Laura Kelly with Kris Kobach and Greg Orman with Jeff Colyer with generic Republican, Democrat, and Independent Kelly won two of four congressional districts, including one that was carried by a Republican in the concurrent congressional elections.