The Morning After

Westboro Baptist Church candidate in Kansas spends nothing on campaign

Jack Wu, a Republican candidate for the Kansas State Board of Education and a Westboro Baptist Church regular, raised only $5.00 for his campaign, which was disclosed in the financial reports published by the Kansas Secretary of State. In an interview today with the Associated Press, Wu said that he doesn’t like to ask for “money” and that it’s not his “style”.

“I don’t like asking for money,” Wu told the Associated Press. “It’s not my style.”

The majority of Kansas voters are Republicans, and like most voters, they are often lacking information about the candidates and simply look for the party letter, the "D" or the "R" after their names. Jack Wu knows that based on the "R" alone, he will get some votes, and if voters don't know about his ties to the church, he could possibly win.

On Wu's campaign website, he says that he was drawn to Kansas from California in 2008 by the Westboro Baptist Church's message, the church is well known for its congregation’s activism and its extremist views towards the LGBT community. The church members regularly picket the funerals of military servicemen and women with vulgar signs. While Wu is not a member he says that he regularly attends services; Wu is proposing that the state end the teaching of evolution in its public schools.

Incumbent Democrat Carolyn Campbell raised $13,518 and spent $12,101. Much of that money was spent on ads that highlight Wu’s relationship with the Westboro Baptist Church.
Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon said Campbell can't assume rank-and-file voters know about Wu's affiliation with Westboro. Wagnon said in Kansas, where registered Republicans significantly outnumber Democrats, people tend to vote along party lines when they know nothing about candidates in down-ballot races.

"The reality is, for a Democrat in Kansas, you have to campaign," Wagnon said. "There are a certain number of people who will vote Republican, no matter what."

Five of the board's 10 seats are on the ballot this year, with members serving four-year terms. Two other races are contested.

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