Kris Kobach — Person

Key Facts

Type

Person

Sector

government

Industry

Not specified

Status

Draft

Country

United States

Nationality

United States

Birth Date

3/26/1966

Death Date

Not specified

Sex

Male

Website

http://www.kansansforkobach.com/

Also Known As

No alternate names

Tags

politicianlawyeranti-immigration activist

Overall Confidence

92%

Internal Notes

No notes

Career & Education

Positions

White House Fellow

White House Fellows Program

2001 - 2002

City Council Member

City of Overland Park, Kansas

1999 - 2003

Secretary of State

State of Kansas

2011 - 2019

Attorney General

State of Kansas

2023 - Present

Education

High School Diploma

Washburn Rural High School

Bachelor of Arts

Harvard University

Government

Doctor of Philosophy

University of Oxford

Juris Doctor

Yale University

Law

About

Kris William Kobach, born on March 26, 1966, is an American lawyer and Republican politician known for his hardline stance on immigration policy. Raised in Topeka, Kansas, he graduated from Washburn Rural High School before earning a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University (summa cum laude, first in his department). As a Marshall Scholar, he obtained a Ph.D. from Oxford University and later received a law degree from Yale University. His early career included clerking for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and serving as a White House Fellow in 2001 under President George W. Bush. Kobach began his political career on the Overland Park City Council and ran unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for Kansas's 3rd congressional district in 2004, losing to incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore.

Kobach gained national prominence as an anti-immigration activist and advisor to President Donald Trump on immigration policy. He collaborated with figures like Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform and authored restrictive immigration laws in states like Arizona and Alabama. Elected as Kansas Secretary of State in 2010 with nearly 60% of the vote, he served from 2011 to 2019, during which he pursued aggressive voter fraud investigations and implemented strict election security measures, often criticized for suppressing minority votes. In 2018, he ran for governor but lost in the primary. Kobach co-chaired the Voter Fraud Commission for President Trump, which was disbanded amid legal challenges. In 2022, he was elected Kansas Attorney General, taking office in 2023, where he continues to focus on election integrity and conservative legal priorities.

Throughout his career, Kobach has been a controversial figure, accused of promoting xenophobic policies and facing lawsuits over his immigration and voting initiatives. His work has positioned him as a key player in networks of influence within conservative and anti-immigration circles, influencing national debates on border security and electoral processes.

Key Relationships

Dan Stein

collaborated

Stein and FAIR have collaborated extensively with Kris Kobach, who served as general counsel for FAIR's legal arm, the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI), on multiple lawsuits challenging immigration policies like DACA and sanctuary cities, amplifying their joint influence on federal court outcomes.

Since 2000

John Guandolo

briefed

John Guandolo has briefed Kris Kobach on counterterrorism issues, including his views on Islamic extremism and the Muslim Brotherhood, likely influencing Kobach's policy positions.

Since 2015

Heather Mannschreck Kobach

spouse

Kobach married Heather Mannschreck in 2001. The family context is relevant for understanding personal networks and potential undisclosed influences or conflicts. They have five children together.

Since 2001

Samuel P. Huntington

mentor

Huntington was Kobach's faculty advisor at Harvard from 1984 to 1988. Huntington's writings on the threat of Mexican and Latin American migration to 'American identity' were later required reading in Kobach's law course at UMKC, indicating a deep and formative intellectual influence.

Since 1984

John Ashcroft

supervised

Kobach was selected for a White House Fellowship in 2001 and worked directly for Attorney General John Ashcroft. After the fellowship, Ashcroft appointed him as counsel, where Kobach helped formulate the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) and wrote speeches for Ashcroft.

Since 2001

Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI)

affiliated

Kobach has served as 'of counsel' for IRLI, litigating numerous high-profile cases to defend local anti-immigration ordinances. This affiliation provided a platform for his legal activism and a source of income, with ProPublica reporting he earned over $800,000 from such work.

Since 2004

Recent Events

Appointed: Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity → Kris Kobach

President Trump appointed Kobach as vice-chair of the commission in 2017. Kobach was its driving force, pushing for access to vast amounts of voter data. The commission was disbanded in 2018 amid legal challenges and criticism of its partisan nature.

1/1/2017

Affiliated: Kris Kobach → Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI)

1/1/2004

Spouse: Heather Mannschreck Kobach → Kris Kobach

Kobach married Heather Mannschreck in 2001. The family context is relevant for understanding personal networks and potential undisclosed influences or conflicts. They have five children together.

1/1/2001