Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in federal, state and local races address leading up to the Nov. 3 election.

Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.

Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question.

Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:

One reader asked what the primary purpose of the attorney general’s office is, and many readers in both rounds said they’re tired of partisan fights. How should the office divide its time between multistate lawsuits and policy fights, and supporting local prosecutors, police and crime victims? What is the most pressing problem you’d tackle over the next four years?

Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:

Chris Mann (Democratic)

The Attorney General’s job, put simply, is to be the people’s attorney and top law enforcement official. As a former police officer and prosecutor, I’ve fought to keep Kansans safe on the street and in the courtroom. I’ve held violent offenders and drug traffickers accountable as a prosecutor in Wyandotte County. As a securities prosecutor, I investigated and prosecuted scam artists and white-collar criminals across Kansas. Supporting local law enforcement is one of the office’s core functions, and I’m honored to have earned the endorsement of the Kansas State FOP.

Regarding the division of time and resources, my criteria for involving the office and taxpayers’ money depends upon the impact on the people of Kansas. This office shouldn’t be about Team Red or Team Blue; it should be about Team Kansas. To the extent anyone, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, wants to help Kansans, I’ll work with them. But if they try to harm Kansans, I’ll fight against them.

My top priorities for the office include:

1. Working with local law enforcement and prosecutors to keep Kansans safe.
2. Aggressively combatting consumer fraud, which is getting dramatically worse. In the first six months of 2026, Kansans lost more than $40 million in scams and fraud. We need to strengthen consumer education and aggressively prosecute these cases.
3. Addressing the rising lethality in domestic violence cases. Domestic violence-related homicides rose 65% between 2024 and 2025. As I’ve traveled Kansas, I’ve seen that shelters are often underfunded and overcrowded. We must work with local partners to ensure victims have a safe place to go to escape the violence.

Kris Kobach (Republican, incumbent)

Did not provide the Post with a response.

Coming up:

Tomorrow, we will publish the candidates’ responses to the following question:

Immigration was readers’ most-raised topic, and they’re sharply divided. Some want Kansas to back ICE fully. Others want state officials to hold ICE accountable for how it treats people, including at a Leavenworth detention facility. What role should the attorney general play in immigration enforcement? Should the office ever investigate complaints about federal agents’ conduct in Kansas?