SALINA, KS — Republican state Senator J.R. Claeys announced Tuesday that he is stepping down from two high-profile roles: his position as a senior adviser to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and his political consulting role with Axiom Strategies.
While Claeys did not disclose his next move, it is widely believed he will soon take a position with President Donald Trump’s administration. This development raises questions about his future in the Kansas Senate.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity Kris gave me to lead his campaign and to be a part of his senior leadership team in the attorney general’s office,” said Claeys, who represents Salina. “I remain a strong supporter of Attorney General Kobach and the work his office is performing in service to our state and to our country.”
Claeys has been a key figure in Kansas Republican politics for over a decade. First elected to the Kansas House in 2012, he moved to the Senate in 2020, where he currently serves as vice chair of the Senate budget committee.
Claeys previously led Kobach’s 2022 campaign for attorney general, helping engineer Kobach’s return to public office after a 2018 gubernatorial defeat to Democrat Laura Kelly. He also played key roles in other GOP campaigns, including Steven Johnson’s successful bid for state treasurer in 2022.
He acknowledged Axiom Strategies founder Jeff Roe for the opportunity to contribute to major Republican races. “Jeff Roe gave me opportunities to fight for our shared values in high-stakes races, and for that I will always be grateful,” Claeys said.
His resignation marks the third high-level departure from Kobach’s office in recent months. Earlier this year, Abhishek Kambli left the special litigation unit to serve as deputy associate attorney general in the Trump-aligned U.S. Justice Department. Dan Burrows, who had been Kobach’s chief deputy, exited late last year to take a role in the White House staff secretary’s office.
Claeys also previously worked on Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign, focusing on operations in Nebraska and Iowa.
No official statement has been made regarding Claeys’ potential appointment to a federal position.
