The Doc is out: Marshall can’t use nickname on Kansas ballot, officials rule

It turns out in Kansas you can be Doc, but not on the ballot, too.

Western Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall lost his bid to appear on the August Republican primary ballot for U.S. Senate as Roger “Doc” Marshall after three of the state’s top elected officials met Friday to rule on the nomenclatural dispute.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers unanimously voted that Marshall, an OB-GYN, couldn’t use Doc, following an hour-and-a-half meeting of the Kansas State Objections Board.

Marshall had requested to be listed on the ballot with “Doc” – a longstanding nickname, he contends. He made a similar request in 2016, also rejected. This time Marshall appealed, triggering Friday’s hearing.

When Rogers asked Marshall’s attorney, Caleb Hays, whether “Doc” was short for something, Hays said it wasn’t.

“His nickname is Doc. His nickname is not doctor,” said Hays, who participated via conference call.

Hays provided the board with statements from five people saying they know Marshall as “Doc” and have called him by the name.

Kansas Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine, an Emporia Republican, wrote that he had known Roger “Doc” Marshall for six years. Michael White, director of the Kansas Contractors Association, wrote that he had come to know Marshall as “Doc” and said it’s how he and others know him.

Riley Scott, a lobbyist in the Kansas Statehouse, sent a screenshot of his iPhone showing Marshall listed as “Doc Marshall” in his contacts.

The board wasn’t persuaded.

“I do think this gives an unfair advantage to Congressman Marshall,” Rogers said.

Schwab said Marshall would have never been called “Doc” if he hadn’t become a doctor. Kansas law prohibits accomplishments from being listed on the ballot.

Marshall’s main rival for the Republican nomination, Kris Kobach, said Friday the law is clear that candidates can’t use professional titles to advance themselves on the ballot.

“It’s prohibited and that’s been in Kansas law for many, many years,” Kobach said.

In a statement, Marshall campaign spokesman Eric Pahls said that while “we would have loved to have Doc’s common name on the ballot, we respect the board’s decision, and we’re still in great shape.”

The Eagle’s Dion Lefler contributed reporting

This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 6:12 PM.