Age requirement considered after 6 Kan. teens run for governor

Among teenage candidates are Democrat Jack Bergeson, center, and his lieutenant governor running mate, Alexander Cline, left, both students at The Independent School in Wichita. At right is Libertarian Ethan Randleas, a student at Wichita Heights High School.
photo by Jim McLean / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Candidates would be required to be at least 18 to run for statewide offices in Kansas under a bill introduced in response to six teenagers entering the race for governor.

The House Elections Committee discussed last week setting an age requirement for running for governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer and state commissioner of insurance. The committee could vote Monday. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor would also have to live in Kansas for four years before seeking office, but the bill wouldn’t take effect until after this fall’s election.

Tyler Ruzich is a 17-year-old Shawnee Mission North student from Prairie Village running for Kansas governor as a Republican.
photo by Jim McClean KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Besides the six teens seeking the state’s top office, another is running for secretary of state. Proponents of the bill argued that most states require candidates to be older.