Kobach’s lead in Kansas GOP primary shrinks due to mistake in vote totals

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s narrow lead over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the GOP primary race for governor shrunk on Thursday after officials discovered a mistake in voting totals.

Kobach’s lead has been sliced from 191 to 91 votes after officials noticed a discrepancy in Colyer’s totals in Thomas County. Results remain unofficial, and the race is still too close to call.

The secretary of state’s website lists Kobach with 466 votes to Colyer’s 422 in Thomas County.

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However, the Thomas County election results page shows Colyer with 522 votes to Kobach’s 466.

Kansas elections director Bryan Caskey told The Associated Press that officials noticed the discrepancy during a routine post-election review of voting totals.

The primary has been closely watched, particularly after President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE backed Kobach over the incumbent Colyer.

Kobach said Wednesday he would not recuse himself from a recount in the race. Colyer is able to request a state-funded recount if the margin between the two candidates is less than 0.5 percentage points.

While Kobach is not required to recuse himself, the decision raised ethical questions among some election experts.

Trump weighed in to back Kobach just a day before the primary, leaving some Republicans worried that a Kobach victory could give Democrats an opening to win the governor’s mansion in a traditionally red state.

Kobach’s hard-line views on immigration and voting rights could potentially alienate more-centrist Republicans.

He was the vice chairman of Trump’s since-disbanded commission to investigate unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election, which he said cost him the popular vote to Democratic nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE.