Clinton becomes first Democrat to file for Kansas caucuses

Hillary Clinton pledged to run a “ground up, grassroots campaign” in Kansas Thursday as she became the first Democratic candidate to file in the state’s March 5 caucuses.

“Our campaign in Kansas is being built from the ground up, driven by a grassroots coalition that’s excited about Hillary Clinton’s proven record and fired up about her agenda that addresses the issues that keep them up at night head on,” the Clinton campaign said in a statement announcing her filing.

Clinton qualified for the caucuses by paying the party’s $2,500 filing fee. As with the Republican Party, money generated by the filing fees will be used to promote the caucuses and pay the expenses of holding them. Democrats plan to have caucus meetings in each of the 40 state Senate districts, but a list of those locations has not yet been announced.

At least two other candidates are expected to file: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

So far, six candidates have lined up for the Republican caucuses in Kansas, which will also be held March 5. They include Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ben Carson.